ATM cell encryption and key update synchronization

This paper presents a data compaction/randomization based approach as a mode of block encryption for ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) cells. The presented approach converts a plaintext into pseudo‐random plaintext before ciphering to conceal patterns in the plaintext. The underlying idea behind this scheme is the Shannon's principles of “confusion” and “diffusion” which involve breaking dependencies and introducing as much randomness as possible into the ciphertext. In this scheme, confusion and diffusion are introduced into the system by first compressing the ATM cell payload and then spreading a continuously changing random data over the entire content of the cell. As a mode of operation for block ciphering, this scheme offers the following attractive features:(i) plaintext patterns are pseudo‐randomized and chained with ciphertext (thereby, preventing against “dictionary”, “known plaintext”, and “statistical analysis” attacks), (ii) it is self‐synchronizing, (iii) cell loss has no additional negative effect, (iv) no IV (Initialization Vector) storage is required, (v) it is encryption‐algorithm independent, (vi) there is no cell‐to‐cell dependency (no feedback from previous cells), and (vii) it is highly scalable (i.e., cells from the same stream can be ciphered and deciphered in parallel). This paper also presents a secure mechanism for in‐band synchronization of encryption/decryption key updates using a “marker‐cell” that is carried within the data channel. An important aspect of both the above mechanisms is that they do not require any changes to the ATM cell header or ATM infrastructure. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Investigation of Heaving at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico

Heaving of pavements and a building foundation became progressively worse on a project at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), N.M. The cause of the heaving was identified as sulfate attack on recycled concrete used as fill and base course below the buildings and pavements. This recycled concrete came from sulfate-resistant airfield Portland concrete pavement that had existed for decades at Holloman AFB without distress. However, severe sulfate exposure conditions, ready availability of water, the more permeable nature of the crushed recycled concrete, less common thaumasite attack, possible soil contamination as a secondary source of alumina, or some combination of these factors allowed sulfate attack to develop in the recycled material even though it had not in the original concrete pavement.     

Software Quality Metrics for Life-Cycle Cost-Reduction

This paper identifies factors or characteristics of which reliability is one, which comprise the quality of computer software. It then discusses their impact over the life of a software product, and describes a methodology for specifying them quantitatively, including them in system design, and measuring them during development. The methodology is still experimental, but is rapidly evolving toward application to all types of software. This paper emphasizes those factors of software quality which have greatest importance at the later stages of a software product's life.     

The preparation and properties of some petroselinylamine derivatives

Petroselinylamine (cis-6-octadecenylamine) has been prepared by an improved process in which petroselinic acid in xylene is subjected to ammonolysis and treated further to yield the pri-mary amine without isolating the intermediate products. In addition, the petroselinylamine has been reacted with acrylonitrile, followed by reduc-tion with metallic sodium and alcohol, to give N-substituted petroselinyl-l,3-trimethylenediamine adducts, and with ethylene oxide under pressure to yield the oxyethylated tertiary amine deriva-tives. The crude products in each case were mix-tures of derivatives of various molecular weights. It was possible to isolate the N-petroselinyl-1,3-trimethylenediamine in its pure form from the crude mixture of hydrochloride salts by repeated recrystallizations from aqueous ethanol. The mix-ture of petroselinylamine-ethylene oxide deriva-tives could not be separated. 1 Presented at the AOCS Meeting, Cincinnati, October 1965. 2 So. Utiliz. Res. Dev. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Passages: Career ladders for college counseling center psychologists.

Uses the stages of adult development set forth by G. Sheehy (1976) as a model for analyzing the careers of counseling psychologists. The careers of counseling center personnel are traced from graduate school days to the period Sheehy refers to as resignation or renewal, and the following conclusions are made: (a) The counseling center career ladder is short, forcing many psychologists in their early 30's into other job avenues; (b) the flexibility provided by counseling center positions is a 2-edged sword, producing disadvantages in later career stages; (c) reward systems should be developed to keep competent therapists in the counseling center; (d) administrative training should be provided during graduate school for future counseling psychologists; and (e) renewal alternatives need to be developed for burned-out counselors and counseling center directors in the midlife transition. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Numerical methods for second-order shape sensitivity analysis with applications to heat conduction problems

In this paper, two finite-element-based schemes for second-order shape sensitivity analysis are presented. In the first formulation, the AV-DD method, the first-order shape sensitivity equation is derived and expressed in terms of state and adjoint variables. The resultant equation is then directly differentiated to obtain the second-order shape sensitivity equation. In the second formulation, the DD-AV method, the functional of concern is differentiated twice to yield the second-order sensitivity equation in which the second-order shape derivatives can be eliminated by introducing a proper adjoint equation. A thermal fin problem and a thermal insulation layer problem have been studied to validate the proposed schemes. It is shown that both methods yield identical results, though the DD-AV method is computationally more efficient.     

Ethnic pride and self-control related to protective and risk factors: Test of the theoretical model for the strong African American families program.

Objective. To test a theoretical model of how ethnic pride and self-control are related to risk and protective factors. Design. A community sample of 670 African American youth (mean age = 11.2 years) were interviewed in households. Main Outcome Measures. Measures of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and sexual behavior (lifetime to past month). Results. Structural modeling analyses indicated parenting was related to self-control and self-esteem, and racial socialization was related to ethnic pride. Self-control and self-esteem variables were related to levels of deviance-prone attitudes and to perceptions of engagers in, or abstainers from, substance use and sexual behavior. The proximal factors (behavioral willingness, resistance efficacy, and peer behavior) had substantial relations to the criterion variables. Participant gender and parental education also had several paths in the model. Results were generally similar for the 2 outcome behaviors. Conclusions. In this population, self-esteem and self-control are related to parenting approaches and have pathways to attitudes and social perceptions that are significant factors for predisposing to, or protecting against, early involvement in substance use and sexual behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

PREPARATION OF HYDROTHERMALLY TREATED LRC/WATER FUEL SLURRIES

The hot-water coal drying process is a means of thermally beneficiating and dewatering lignite and subbituminous coal for the purpose of preparing dense low-rank coal/water fuel. In hot-water coal drying, which is a form of hydrothermal treatment, low-rank coal in a water slurry is treated at elevated temperatures of 513 to 623  K and at pressures in excess of the equivalent saturated steam pressures lo minimize vaporization of the water. This produces a coal product which contains less than one-third the inherent moisture of the raw coal and which is resistant to moisture reabsorption. The hydrothermally treated coal/water slurry resulting from the process can be concentrated by mechanical means (centrifuge, pressure filter)to form a pumpable coal/water fuel with greater than 60 weight percent bone-dry solids content and with an energy content greater than 15·4 MJ/Kg (6600 Btu/lb). Hydrothermal treatment also beneficiates the coal by reducing oxygen and minerals. Over 94 percent of the energy content of the raw coal remains in the product. Low-rank coal/water fuel is typically a pseudoplastic fluid, and for some low-rank coals, the slurry is stable towards settling, without the use of additives.