Low Latency Intrusion Detection in Smart Grids

The transformation of traditional power grids into smart grids has seen more new technologies such as communication networks and smart meters (sensors) being integrated into the physical infrastructure of the power grids. However, these technologies pose new vulnerabilities to the cybersecurity of power grids as malicious attacks can be launched by adversaries to attack the smart meters and modify the measurement data collected by these meters. If not timely detected and removed, these attacks may lead to inaccurate system state estimation, which is critical to the system operators for control decisions such as economic dispatch and other related functions. This dissertation studies the challenges associated with cyberattacks in power grids and develops solutions to effectively and timely detect these attacks to ensure an accurate state estimation. One of the common approaches to improving the state estimation accuracy is to incorporate phasor measurement unit (PMU) devices into the system to provide extra and more secure measurements. In this research, we design algorithms that place PMUs at strategic locations to enhance the system\u27s state estimation accuracy and its capability to detect cyberattacks. This approach of installing PMU devices in power grids, nonetheless, does not guarantee a timely attack detection that is critical for a timely deployment of countermeasures to prevent catastrophic impacts from the attacks. Thus, the low latency intrusion detection problem is studied to reduce attack detection delays. The state estimation and intrusion detection problem is further extended to a dynamic power system, where there are sudden changes in system loads

AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF IMPORTS IN ALGERIA DURING THE PERIOD (1992-2012)

This study showed a number of previous studies which focused on the demand for imports of many countries, whether developed or developing countries and in varying degrees of economic growth; where the aim of these studies search for variables and factors that determine the overall demand for imports. The majority of the studies concluded that income and relative prices are considered key factors in the interpretation and determine the level of aggregate demand for imports. The study aimed to identify the factors that affect the composition of each commodity and geographical distribution of imports in Algeria; and have been used in order to achieve this some standards for concentration commodity and geographical location, and the relative importance from the period from 1992 to 2012

Econometric Study on the Impact of Public Spending on Imports in Algeria between the Period (1990 – 2012)

We consider public spending as a very important tool in the financial policy and participate essentially in imports. So, there are many studies related to public spending and import. The work below is an application of Co-integration analysis (test of constant variables (augmented Dickey-Fuller) and the test of (Johansen and Juselius). In addition to a corrections sample and the annual report of the period between 1990 – 2012. The aim is to study the impact of public spending on import in Algeria. Keywords: Public spending, importation, test of constant variables, correction of mistakes.

Growth of WC-Cr-N and WC-Al-N coatings in a RF-magnetron sputtering process

Tungsten carbide-based coatings have been used in a wide variety of industrial applications such as high speed cutting tools, extrusion dies, drills, aerospace industries, and more. A few reports on ternary and quaternary coatings of WC with other elements indicate good prospects for these material systems. The present study focuses on the formation of quaternary WCeCreN and WCeAleN coatings during the simultaneous reactive RF-magnetron sputtering of tungsten carbide and Al or Cr targets in an argon/nitrogen gas mixture. The resulting coatings, with thicknesses of 3.5 mme8.2 mm, were characterized by using several analytical techniques including X-ray diffraction, SEM/EDS, AFM, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. WCeCreN and WCeAleN coatings with high levels of tungsten (i.e. more than 50 at.% of the total metal content) demonstrated dense microstructure. Coatings with lower tungsten content formed columnar grain microstructure, with different surface morphologies depending on the process parameters. It was proposed that crystalline tungsten carbide (with partial N-substitution of C atoms) and chromium (or aluminum) nitride phases coexist in the coatings when the amount of tungsten was greater than 50 at.% of the total metal content; while at lower tungsten content, the dominating crystalline phase is either W-doped CrN1 y or AlN1 y solid solution, with WC1 x and small amounts of free sp2-bonded carbon present as X-ray amorphous phases.U.S. National Science Foundation under the awards DMR-0806521, DRM-0922910 Regional Council of Burgundy, Franc

Knowledge and best practice management through benchmarking: A global survey

Developing best practice through benchmarking features as a critical activity in the business world as it is a vital approach for sharing and transferring knowledge.Companies across the globe have embraced these concepts but have done so with a varied level of success.Some have managed to create huge market place advantages whilst others have fared less favourably.The purpose of this research is to establish the level of benchmarking activity and application globally.The information gathered included both the hard and soft issues associated with benchmarking and following analysis,attempted to evaluate the level of benchmarking maturity reached across different industry fields and size of operation.This global survey helps understand what leads to effective benchmarking and development of best practices

A Compact SIW Mixer For Millimeter-Wave Applications

The present paper highlights an innovative broadband millimeter-wave single balanced diode mixer which is designed using a newly designed 90 substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) coupler and two cavity (SIW) filters. The mixer covers RF/LO operating frequency range which fluctuates between 10 to 12 GHz and IF port covers 2GHz. The proposed mixer exhibits a fairly low conversion loss of less than 10 dB and high port to-port isolations over the frequency band of interest as the simulated results make clear. Furthermore, the two cavities SIW filter is embedded to achieve a better image frequency suppression of about 28dB.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v4i6.668

The gap between formal education and ecotourism in Penang / Song-Quan Ong, Hamdan Ahmad and Zairi Jaal

The development of ecotourism in Penang has to acquire environmental knowledge. We aimed to determine the supply, demand and career pathway for the environmental program in Penang. All the programs of Higher Education Providers (HEPs) were analyzed, market demand was conducted on the high schools’ students of Penang empirically, and the career pathways were evaluated from essential recruitment companies. There are 84 tertiary education institutions in the Northern Peninsular Malaysia (five public universities, ten private universities, eight university colleges, and 61 colleges), but only three institutions provided environmental or related undergraduate programs; 13 institutions consisted of tourism management programs, but not specific in ecotourism. For the demand investigation, a program survey was conducted on 206 students with age between 16-19 (Form 4, 5, 6 and A-level); more than 58% of the students showed favorable to the environmental programs. However, the job opportunities related to the environment were significantly fewer compared to other occupations; this might be the reason for fewer programs in HEPs. Development of ecotourism in Penang must be equipped with the environmental knowledge to bring the true meaning of ecotourism--to protect nature, empower the local people, and educate the local population and the ecotourist

Testing the criticality of HR-TQM factors in the Malaysian higher education context.

The aim of this paper is to provide evidence on the degree of criticality and reliability tests for human resource (HR) related critical success factors (CSFs) in TQM implementation. This involves identifying and defining the HR-related CSFs from an exhaustive source of literature reviews on quality initiatives. In higher education (HE) contexts, the CSFs in TQM programmes emphasise more management commitment, HR management and quality working attitudes for customer satisfaction. Therefore, the ‘soft’ or HR aspects in the literature review stand as the fundamental issue of concern for organizational management in quality planning and creating a quality working climate to ensure successful expected performance. Using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), the HR-related CSFs that have high mean scores and reliability coefficients, are teamwork spirit, competent staff, customer-focus orientation and visionary leadership. Other factors have reasonably high scores and are recommended to be included in similar research in contexts other than simply the HE context

Sustainable Competitiveness Through Quality Transformation: A Longitudinal Analysis Of Quality Award Winners And A Proposed Framework

Quality management is a dynamic philosophy that underlines the organisational adaptation and proactive transformation that enables firms to reap real benefits from market opportunities. The faster the market changes, the quicker the transformation that is required for sustaining the firm's internal capabilities and its external competitiveness. Under a competitive pressure, a firm will need to learn faster and lead in best practice for operational excellence and continuously finding ways to shield its advantage from imitation. In the search for determinants for sustainability, this article analyses best practices adopted by quality award-winning organisations and synthesises a collection of critical factors that could assist organisations in improving their performance. From a longitudinal learning on how these leading organisations led themselves into a new sustaining paradigm, the article makes explicit the factors that were considered of paramount importance to sustainability. These success factors become a basis for others to leapfrog ahead into a new performance orbit. A proposed model for sustaining competitiveness has been developed from the creative learning of best practices of leading organisations. This proposed framework presents companies with an opportunity to emulate successful implementation of TQ-based initiatives, and to embed these pioneering concepts, particularly in the context of emerging countries