Electric Power Synchrophasor Network Cyber Security Vulnerabilities

Smart grid technologies such as synchrophasor devices (Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs)), make real-time monitoring, control, and analysis of the electric power grid possible. PMUs measure voltage and current phasors across the electrical power grid, add a GPS time stamps to measurements, and sends reports to the Phasor Data Concentrators (PDCs) in the control centers. Reports are used to make decisions about the condition and state of the power grid. Since this approach relies on Internet Protocol (IP) network infrastructure, possible cybersecurity vulnerabilities have to be addressed to ensure that it is stable, secure, and reliable. In literature, attacks that are relevant to PMUs, are discussed. The system modeled is the benchmark IEEE 68 bus (New England/New York) power system. This document details vulnerability testing performed on a network implemented with a real-time grid simulator, the Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS), with SEL PMU devices monitoring several bases. The first set of security vulnerabilities were found when running traffic analysis of the network. In using this approach it was found that the system was susceptible to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) poisoning. This allowed the switch to be tricked so that all network traffic was rerouted through the attack computer. This technique allowed for packet analysis, man-in-the-middle, and denial of service (DOS) attacks. Side channel analysis was used to distinguish PMU traffic across the virtual private network (VPN) established by the security gateways. After the traffic was collected, the inter-packet delays were used to construct a Hidden Markov Model. This model was used to distinguish measurement packets being transported across the VPN. Once the measurements are identified, a DOS attack can be performed on the network. While this document unveils certain security vulnerabilities within the PMU network, further testing is needed to provide a full security vulnerability analysis. A future security agenda is proposed

Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Pathways to Citizenship Behaviors in Mutual-Help Addiction Recovery Housing

Substance abuse and dependence is a social problem in the U .S. that continues to be difficult to adequately address (Dutra et al.. 2008; Harwood. 2000; 0 DCP, 2004; SAMHSA,2010). Services such as inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, mutual-help addiction support groups and recovery housing have attempted to redress the issue with limited effect (Jason eta l2001 ). Obviously, additional research is needed for these serv ices. In particular, additional research is needed for mechanisms by which mutual-help and recovery housing influence behavior. For example, research suggests that members who engage in helping behaviors have more favorable outcomes (Crape. Latkin, Laris. & Knowlton. 2002; Magura eta!.. 2003; Pagano, Friend, Tonigan, Stout, 2004; Zenmore et al., 2004), and groups whose members engage in such behavior appear to be more sustainable over time (King, Stewart. King, & Law, 2000; Wituk, Shepherd, Warren, & Meissen, 2002). Although the mechanisms of these helping behaviors in mutual-help systems are not well understood, a transdisciplinary perspective can be employed to examine helping behaviors from an industrial/organizational (l/0) framework. The 110 literature suggests that citizenship behavior (e.g. helping the setting and fellow members prosper) isrelated to satisfaction with and commitment to settings (LePine, Erezand & Johnson, 2002; Organ & Ryan, 1995; Schappe, 1998; Whitman, Rooy, & Viswesvaran, 201 0; Zeinabadi, 201 0), as well as the congruence between persons and settings in which they interact (Hoffman & Woehr, 2006; Varquer et al., 2003). This literature further suggests that satisfaction and commitment may mediate the relationship between congruence and citizenship (Varquer, Beehr,& Wagner, 2003). Based on the aforementioned literature, this dissertation examined a meditational path model using a multilevel structural equation model to account for potential dependence that can result from complex sampling methods. The dissertation also examined individual paths in the model. The initial model with onl y hypothesized relationships did not fit the data well. Although an alternative model with all questioned relationships included fit the data excellentl y and explained a large amount of variance in satisfaction, commitment, and citizenship behavior, onl y little to moderate variance was explained by unique paths. Additionally, there was a moderate to strong correlations between the components ofP-E fit. This suggested the components may form a latent factor of general P-E fit that could be related to citizenship behavior through satisfaction and commitment. The supplemental measurement and structural model supported this supposition. This supplemental model suggested a moderate direct relationship of P-E fit to satisfaction, commitment, and citizenship as well a strong relationship between satisfaction and commitment. These findings are consistent with recent theory regarding P-E fit (Yu, 2009) and were discussed in relation to both Affecti ve Events Theory (Weiss & Cropanzano, 1996) and cognitive dissonance (Festinger, 1957)

Efficient digital implementation of a multi-precision square-root algorithm

In high performance computing systems and signal processing, there is a basic set of mathematical functions that are essential. While addition, subtraction and multiplication are well understood, there is less literature on square-rooting, which is a particularly time- and resource-consuming function. Traditional non-restoring algorithms produce a mantissa half the length ofthe input mantissa, causing a loss of precision. This study presents a method for increasing the accuracy of this algorithm. It is shown to work for all IEEE-754R standard floating-point numbers. Error analysis shows a 57-fold (for half-precision) and 134e6-fold improvement (for double-precision) in the normalised error, equivalent to at most 1 Units of Least Precision. Resource and performance optimised variants are analysed and their throughput analysed. On an Intel Stratix V device, performance optimised implementations achieve a throughput of 717 MFLOPs. Resource optimised implementations on a low-cost device require only 127 Adaptive Logic Modules and 232 registers, with a throughput of 8.56 MFLOPs. All implementations are DSPblock and memory free, saving valuable resources. The maximum throughput of the presented design is 15.5 times greater than that proposed by Pimentel et al. and two orders of magnitude greater than typical multiply-accumulate methods

Investigations of redox-labeled silica and gold nanoparticles in solution and as films on electrodes

Chapter One serves as a background for Au nanoparticles (AuNP) and silica nanoparticles (SiNP). A brief history of the synthesis and characterization of AuNPs will be followed by a discussion on the recent application of the particles in sensing and energy-related applications. The second portion of the chapter will be a discussion on the functionalization of SiNPs and their application in a variety of sensing systems. Chapter Two discusses the irreversible adsorption onto electrode surfaces of highly ionic, mixed-monolayer AuNPs containing an N,N,N-triethylammonium terminated thiol and a ferrocenylhexane thiol. The AuNP films are entropically stabilized due to the multidentate nature of the particles and can be transferred to NP-free electrolyte solutions for further investigation. The most interesting aspect of the film is the ability to monitor ion and accompanying solvent transfer between the film and electrolyte solution despite the films being one to two monolayers thick. Comparisons will be drawn to ion transfer between two immiscible electrolyte solutions. Chapter Three will discuss the controlled growth of films of highly ionic, mixed monolayer AuNPs containing deprotonated mercaptoundecanoic acid and 6-(ferrocenylhexane) thiol. The controlled deposition of films of AuNPs without the addition of a metal ion to facilitate binding between particles provides a new route to controlling film thicknesses for applications in Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and energy storage. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance studies, impedance spectroscopy and theoretical modeling show that the large peak-to-peak separation for the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple in cyclic voltammograms arises solely from uncompensated resistance effects within the film, i.e., the rates of ion permeation. Chapter Four examines ferrocenated SiNPs as charge storage devices. Focus is initially on the surface functionalization. Spectroscopic characterizations are used to estimate the number ferrocenes per particle. Next, a variety of electrochemical investigations confirm that approximately 600 ferrocenes reside on the surface of the particles. Several interesting investigations are discussed relating to formation of a slurry of SiNPs upon addition of supporting electrolyte or acetonitrile for electrochemical investigations. Despite the formation of the slurry, reproducible electrochemistry was obtained

Using Intercultural Sensitivity to Predict Culturally Responsive Classroom Management Self-Efficacy among Preservice Teachers

As student diversity increases, it is imperative that Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) prepare preservice teachers to manage these classrooms. Educators are expected to possess the skillset, experience, and confidence necessary to engage diverse students from varying cultural backgrounds. Thus, intercultural sensitivity is an important affective trait for teachers, however, the connection between intercultural sensitivity and self-efficacy for culturally responsive classroom management has not been well documented in the preservice teacher literature. In this study, one mid-southern university examined the relationship between preservice teachers’ perceptions of their intercultural sensitivity and their self-efficacy for tasks related to culturally responsive classroom management. Findings indicated that preservice teachers are confident in their ability to manage classrooms in a culturally responsive manner and that intercultural sensitivity significantly predicted and explained about a third of variance in culturally responsive classroom management self-efficacy. While EPPs could consider requiring coursework in cultural diversity and classroom management, the results of this study indicated that coursework alone was not enough to improve preservice teachers’ self-efficacy

Developing and Implementing Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration for Pre-Emptible Context Switching and Continuous End-To-End Dataflow Applications

This study explores the benefits of the Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration (DPR) on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based System on Chip (SoC) architectures. Consideration is given to the constraints imposed by the implementation of partial reconfiguration on both pre-emptible context switching and continuous end-to-end dataflow applications. Skeleton structure systems that permit the insertion and removal of ‘blocks’ into the overall FPGA floorplan have been developed. These can be reconfigured dynamically by the on chip system hosteven during data processing. In pre-emptible context switching maintaining the execution state of a design before switching away from it becomes of paramount importance; this work presents a new Pre-emptible Flip Flop (PFF) design that is used as a basis for a Task Specific Access Structure (TSAS) for FPGA designs and then proposes an algorithm to automate the insertion of these PFF’s into a synthesised design. Expanding into continuous dataflow application design allows the system host to re-route signals during the partial reconfiguration process and then re-establish the processing chain with the new configuration hence maintaining a continuous uninterrupted dataflow.The design flow used in this work makes use of non-standard IP and tools that are not supported by Altera for the Cyclone V SoC. However, as this paper shows, partial reconfiguration is possible inside the Cyclone V SoC device.For further information please contact the authors

Efficient digital implementation of a multi-precision square-root algorithm

In high performance computing systems and signal processing, there is a basic set of mathematical functions that are essential. While addition, subtraction and multiplication are well understood, there is less literature on square-rooting, which is a particularly time- and resource-consuming function. Traditional non-restoring algorithms produce a mantissa half the length ofthe input mantissa, causing a loss of precision. This study presents a method for increasing the accuracy of this algorithm. It is shown to work for all IEEE-754R standard floating-point numbers. Error analysis shows a 57-fold (for half-precision) and 134e6-fold improvement (for double-precision) in the normalised error, equivalent to at most 1 Units of Least Precision. Resource and performance optimised variants are analysed and their throughput analysed. On an Intel Stratix V device, performance optimised implementations achieve a throughput of 717 MFLOPs. Resource optimised implementations on a low-cost device require only 127 Adaptive Logic Modules and 232 registers, with a throughput of 8.56 MFLOPs. All implementations are DSPblock and memory free, saving valuable resources. The maximum throughput of the presented design is 15.5 times greater than that proposed by Pimentel et al. and two orders of magnitude greater than typical multiply-accumulate methods

Our Reflections on the Reactions to “Theories in the Field of Community Psychology”

We recognize that our article (Jason, Stevens, Ram, Miller, Beasley, & Gleason, 2016) will be controversial, and we are delighted that it has sparked some lively discussions. Our thesis is that research in our field could benefit from being evaluated on how it contributes to theory (including the development of one’s own). We believe that this recommendation represents a significant and constructive step forward. Our reflections on a number of the issues raised by those who wrote reactions to our article are below