Secure electronic markets for private information

Technological advances in the collection, storage, and analysis of data have increased the ease with which businesses can make profitable use of information about individuals. Some of this information is private, and individuals are simultaneously becoming more aware of the value of the information and how the loss of control over this information impacts their personal privacy. As a partial solution to these concerns, this paper presents a mechanism that serves two purposes. The first enables the use of private, numerical data in the answering of queries while simultaneously providing a security feature that protects the data owners from a loss of privacy that could result from an unauthorized access. The second develops a compensation model for the use of the data that allows individuals to dynamically redefine their security requirements. The compensation model is built on the information-security mechanism to create the foundation of a market for private information. This paper illustrates how compensation models like the one presented here could be used in a self-regulating market for private information. Additionally, the compensation component of an intermediated market for private information is developed and extensively analyzed. Finally, this paper provides insights and draws several important conclusions on markets for private information.     

Enhanced layered segment trees: a pragmatic data structure for real-time processing of geometric objects

The data structure that is probably most used in the pattern recognition and image processing of geometric objects is the segment tree and its optimized variant, the “layered segment tree”. In all the versions currently known, except the work of Vaishnavi and Wood described later, these data structures do not operate in real time. Even in the latter scheme, although the structure can be implemented in real time and in an on-line fashion, the operation of insertion involves the sorting of the representations of the line segments in the tree. In essence, for all the reported algorithms, there is no known strategy to insert the segments one by one, other than the trivial strategy of processing them all together as in a batched-mode. In this paper, we present a strategy in which all the operations done on the tree can be done efficiently. Indeed, by improving the bottleneck, we prove that an arbitrary horizontal segment can be inserted into this data structure without invoking an expensive sorting process. We show that while this is accomplished by maintaining the same space and query complexity of the best-known algorithm, the version presented here is applicable to on-line real-time processing of line segments. The paper thus has applications in all areas of pattern recognition and image processing involving geometric objects.     

Kinetics of oxygen dissolution in molten lead

An electromotive force cell employing the ZrO₂-CaO solid electrolyte has been set up to investigate the kinetics of dissolution of oxygen in molten lead under various oxidizing conditions. The cell may be written as The cell has been so designed that the electrode chambers are completely isolated from each other. The oxygen in lead is first reduced to a very low value by bubbling hydrogen. subsequently, oxygen dissolution is achieved through gas diffusion across the free surface or through bubble metal interaction. During all these reactions the electromotive force of the cell changes continuously and is automatically recorded. The diffusion coefficient of oxygen in lead, as calculated from the experimental data, is 1.29×10⁻⁵ sq cm per sec and the liquid phase mass transfer coefficient is estimated to be 0.035 cm per sec at 750°C.     

Growth characteristics of two interacting cracks

This paper deals with the growth characteristics of two interacting cracks in a mixed mode condition. The problem considered is that of two cracks of different lengths, arbitrarily placed in a plane. A uniform load is applied in the plane at a large distance away from the cracks. The objectives of this study are threefold: (1) Solve the mixed boundary value problem described in the foregoing; (2) Predict the most vulnerable crack tip where the instability would first occur as the load is increased; (3) Determine the directions in which the cracks may grow. The numerical results given are only for the specific case of one crack lying along a radial line which emanates from the tip of the other crack at an arbitrary angle.     

A titania nanotube-array room-temperature sensor for selective detection of hydrogen at low concentrations

A tremendous variation in electrical resistance, from the semiconductor to metallic range, has been observed in titania nanotube arrays at room temperature, approximately 25 degrees C, in the presence of < or = 1000 ppm hydrogen gas. The nanotube arrays are fabricated by anodizing titanium foil in an aqueous electrolyte solution containing hydrofluoric acid and acetic acid. Subsequently, the arrays are coated with a 10 nm layer of palladium by evaporation. Electrical contacts are made by sputtering a 2 mm diameter platinum disk atop the Pd-coated nanotube array. These sensors exhibit a resistance variation of the order of 10(4) in the presence of 100 ppm hydrogen at 25 degrees C. The sensors demonstrate complete reversibility, repeatability, high selectivity, negligible drift and wide dynamic range. The nanoscale geometry of the nanotubes, in particular the points of tube-to-tube contact, is believed to be responsible for the outstanding hydrogen gas sensitivities.     

Sellmeier dispersion for phase-matched terahertz generation in ZnGeP2

A Sellmeier dispersion of zinc germanium diphosphide (ZnGeP2) crystal has been formulated to determine the phase-matching characteristics of the crystal for the generation of coherent tunable terahertz radiation by difference-frequency mixing techniques. The results computed with the formulated Sellmeier dispersion provide an excellent fit to the experimental data.     

Hardware vs software reliability—A comparative study

High levels of reliability can be predicted and achieved as far as the hardware portions of modern large and complex real-time computer-based control systems are concerned but software is a critical part and plays a vital role in influencing the overall system reliability. This paper presents a comparative study between hardware reliability and software reliability from three definitions: top level, intermediate level and low level based on user's point of view, system designer's point of view and quantitative measurement point of view, respectively. Also discussed is the hardware reliability theory vs software reliability theory on the basis of analysis of malfunctions and prevailing reliability trends.     

Linear and nonlinear optical properties of ZnGeP2 crystal for infrared laser device applications: revisited

Measurement of refractive indices in the spectral bands 9-11 microm and 1.32 microm from a cw CO2 laser and a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, respectively, is reported in a ZnGeP2 crystal. A new set of Sellmeier dispersion relations has been derived from the measured refractive indices data in this crystal. Second-harmonic generation (SHG) of CO2 laser radiation in this crystal is also reported. It is also seen that the previously reported phase-matching data for others experiments in SHG and optical parametric devices is explained satisfactorily with this new set of Sellmeier dispersion relation.     

Application of Fuzzy Logic to Estimate Flow of Methane for Energy Generation at a Sanitary Landfill

This paper proposes the use of a multicriteria assessment technique to evaluate the methane flow during gas extraction from a sanitary landfill. A number of parameters determine the gas generation and the feasibility for its extraction from a landfill. These parameters form a complex set of information with unknown mathematical interrelationships making potential gas flow evaluations difficult and elusive. In addition, the data available for a particular landfill are very often imprecise, uncertain, or subjective, making it even more difficult to evaluate the potential for gas extraction without conducting pilot tests. The method proposed in this paper uses fuzzy composite programming that allows for the use of imprecise information. A landfill gas potential index has been defined, which can be determined by easily obtainable climatological, geological, and landfill parameters. The landfill gas (LFG) potential index is related to the landfill gas flow using an empirical equation. The LFG potential model was calibrated and verified using data obtained from 61 landfills where gas extraction is being conducted. A sensitivity analysis was done to study the impact of variations in the input data on model output.     

Electroactive Shape Memory Effect of Polyurethane Composites Filled with Carbon Nanotubes and Conducting Polymer

We report the electroactive shape memory composites obtained by shape memory polyurethane block copolymer (PU) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), and polypyrrole (PPy). An addition of combined MWNTs and PPy contributed to an enhancement in conductivity of PU-MWNTs composites. PU containing 2.5% MWNTs showed better mechanical and thermal properties than other composites, but conductivity was not sufficient for showing the shape memory effect by applying electrical voltages. However, when the composite was lightly coated by PPy (2.5%), its conductivity was the highest than other composites. Such the conductivity of this composite was enough to show electroactive shape recovery by heating above transition temperature of 40-48°C due to melting of polycaprolactone soft segment domain. The good shape recovery of 90-96% could be obtained in the shape recovery test when an electric field of 25 V was applied.