Trustworthy Computing under Resource Constraints with the DOWN Policy

Trustworthy computing modules like secure coprocessors (ScP) are already in extensive use today, albeit limited predominantly to scenarios where constraints on cost is not a serious limiting factor. However, inexpensive trustworthy computers are required for many evolving application scenarios. The problem of realizing inexpensive ScPs for large-scale networks consisting of low-complexity devices have not received adequate consideration thus far. We introduce two strategies toward realizing low-cost ScPs. The first is the decrypt only when necessary (DOWN) policy, which can substantially improve the ability of low-cost ScPs to protect their secrets. The DOWN policy relies on the ability to operate with fractional parts of secrets. Taking full advantage of the DOWN policy requires consideration of the nature of computations performed with secrets and even the mechanisms employed for distribution of secrets. We discuss the feasibility of extending the DOWN policy to various asymmetric and symmetric cryptographic primitives. The second is cryptographic authentication strategies which employ only symmetric cryptographic primitives, based on novel ID-based key predistribution schemes that demand very low complexity of operations to be performed by the ScP and can take good advantage of the DOWN policy.     

Hierarchically porous nanoarchitecture constructed by ultrathin CoSe2 embedded Fe-CoO nanosheets as robust electrocatalyst for water oxidation

The sluggish kinetics and high cost of the noble-metal based electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction(OER)still seriously limits the efficiencies of water splitting.Herein,for the first time,we rationally design a porous hierarchical nanoarchitecture,constructed by ultrathin CoSe2 embedded Fe-CoO nanosheets(CoSe2@Fe-CoO),which is synthesized via self-assembly hydrolysis driven in-situ synergetic selenization of Fe/Co/O/Se precursor followed by Ostwald ripening.As an OER catalyst,the porous CoSe2@Fe-CoO hybrid with abundant CoOOH electroactive sites delivers a small Tafel of 56.2 mV/dec with very low onset overpotential of 280 mV@10 mA/cm2 and excellent long-term physicochemical stability till 62 h without obvious decay,which outperforms well-established benchmark electrocatalysts(RuO2).The boosted OER performance of CoSe2@Fe-CoO nanosheets is mainly attributed to its iron-doping effect,porous nanoarchitecture,and multicomponent synergetic/interfacial effect between ultrathin cobalt(Ⅱ)oxide and conductive cobalt selenide(CoSe2)nanoframework.This work presents a facile construction strategy to find a nonprecious hybrid OER electrocatalyst with excellent performance and long-term stability.     

Excimer laser micromachining of oblique microchannels on thin metal films using square laser spot

Excimer laser micromachining of thin metal films with a sacrificial polymer coating is a novel technique that produces features with smooth edges. Using this technique, oblique microchannels are fabricated by workpiece dragging and using a square laser spot, where the axis of traverse of the workpiece is not parallel to the edges of the square laser spot. The microchannels have serrated edges that are particular to the shape of the mask producing the spot. The edge roughness of the channels, machined with a square laser spot of side 100 μm, is found to be most affected by the fluence–spot overlap interaction, and the channel width by spot-overlap and the angle of tilt of the traversed path. Polymer coated metal films underwent close to ideal machining, aided by the clamping action of the polymer layer. Through this technique of machining post polymer coating, the edge roughnesses of the microchannels have been curtailed to less than 10 μm, and channel widths to 150 μm. This technique may be used in fabrication of oblique and circular patterns using excimer laser micromachining with rectangular and square laser spots.     

Experimental Investigations to Study the Effects of Microwave Treatment Strategy on Tool Performance in Turning Operation

In the present study, microwave treatment has been used to enhance the tribological properties of single-point tungsten carbide (WC) cutting tool inserts such as wear resistance and hardness. The tool hardness and cutting parameters were considered to evaluate the performance of microwave-treated WC inserts in turning operation. The optimum cutting parameters were identified using response surface method (RSM)-based desirability approach. The relationship between cutting parameters and output responses, viz. flank wear, cutting force and surface roughness, was developed using the RSM. The investigations revealed that the increase in tool hardness due to complex carbide formation results in a significant reduction in tool wear, cutting forces and improvement in the surface finish of workpiece. Further, the statistical models results were validated with the experimental results. Metallurgical properties of treated and untreated tool inserts were analyzed using scanning electron microscope, x-ray diffraction method and Vickers microhardness tests. The results highlighted the importance of microwave treatment in enhancing the machining performance in turning operation.     

Turbulence structure for plane Poiseuille–Couette flow and implications for drag reduction over surfaces with slip

Direct numerical simulations were used to simulate plane channel and plane Poiseuille–Couette flows. For Poiseuille–Couette flow, the walls of the channel were moving with a specified velocity. This is equivalent to forcing a slip velocity at the wall of the channel, and such flow behaviour can be viewed as the effect due to an ultra‐hydrophobic wall. It was found that the location of the zero Reynolds stress value shifted towards the wall moving in the streamwise direction. The near‐wall eddies were found to be longer and weaker than for the plane‐Poiseuille channel flow. It appears that such an eddy structure can lead to turbulence drag reduction.     

Lead-free 0201 manufacturing, assembly and reliability test results

The trend towards smaller, faster and cheaper electronic devices has led to an increase in the use of 0201 (L  0.02 in.; W  0.01 in.) and even smaller sized passive components. The size advantages of the 0201 component make it a popular choice among design engineers but not among manufacturing engineers. From a manufacturing perspective, the size of the 0201 package poses significant challenges to the printed circuit board (PCB) assembly process. The many challenges with 0201 assembly can be attributed to the solder paste volume, pad design, aperture design, board finish, type of solder paste, pick-and-place and reflow profile. If these factors are not optimized, they will introduce undesirable manufacturing defects. The small size of 0201 packages and undetected manufacturing defects will also raise concerns about their second level interconnect reliability, especially for lead-free solder alloys and surface finishes, with new processes and higher reflow requirements. To determine the optimum conditions, a design-of-experiment (DOE) study was carried out to investigate the effects of these parameters on assembly defects and solder joint reliability.This paper presents the test results and comparative literature data on the influence of a few key manufacturing parameters and defects associated with the 0201 component using lead-free and tin–lead solder alloys. Data pertaining to component shear strength before and after isothermal aging at 150 °C and intermetallic growth up to 500 h of aging are presented. A number of test vehicles were also subjected to thermal cycling (1500 cycles) in the range of −55/100 °C to determine the solder fatigue behavior. Shear test results for test vehicles subjected to thermal cycling is also presented. In addition, optical microscopy analysis of solder joint behavior during thermal cycling showing the progress of the solder damage and cross-sectional photos taken at 1500 cycles is included.     

Micro electric discharge milling process performance: An experimental investigation

Micro electric discharge milling (μED-milling) process is gaining lot of interest in the area of microfabrication specifically for hard to machine materials. Any complex shape can be generated with a controlled motion of cylindrical tool in a predefined path similar to conventional micromilling. In this method the material removal mechanism in tool and workpiece is complex and requires a detail study of the process parameters. Parameters such as tool rotation speed, feed rate and aspect ratio (AR) can play a vital role in μED-milling process along with the fundamental parameter such as energy. This research work aims to provide exhaustive study of parameters on material removal rate (MRR) and tool wear rate (TWR) by conducting general factorial experiments. A new method is proposed to measure the volume of material eroded from workpiece and tool with an aid of design software. The experimental result shows that the parameters have individual and combined effect on MRR and TWR. Among the parameters, tool rotation speed has a significant function in flushing away the debris to ensure stable discharge. Detailed surface morphology of the machined features has also been analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). A regression analysis was carried out to establish models for MRR and TWR as a function of process parameters.     

Global optimization for scheduling refinery crude oil operations

In this work we present an outer-approximation algorithm to obtain the global optimum of a nonconvex mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model that is used to represent the scheduling of crude oil movement at the front-end of a petroleum refinery. The model relies on a continuous time representation making use of transfer events. The proposed algorithm focuses on effectively solving a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) relaxation of the nonconvex MINLP to obtain a rigorous lower bound (LB) on the global optimum. Cutting planes derived by spatially decomposing the network are added to the MILP relaxation of the original nonconvex MINLP in order to reduce the solution time for the MILP relaxation. The solution of this relaxation is used as a heuristic to obtain a feasible solution to the MINLP which serves as an upper bound (UB). The lower and upper bounds are made to converge to within a specified tolerance in the proposed outer-approximation algorithm. On applying the proposed technique to test examples, significant savings are realized in the computational effort required to obtain provably global optimal solutions.     

Novel schmitt trigger based on lambda diode

A new circuit to realise a Schmitt trigger has been conceived. This circuit, which is based on the well known lambda diode, is suitable for integration using CMOS technology. It requires only three devices and is probably simpler than any other conventional Schmitt trigger circuit.     

Patient preferences for in-center intense hemodialysis

There is a lack of data on patient preferences for intense hemodialysis (IHD). In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to identify patient preferences and patient-centered barriers for IHD. A questionnaire on preferences and anticipated barriers, anticipated benefits, and quality of life for three in-center IHD schedules (daytime 2 hr six times/week [DHD], nocturnal 8 hr three times/week [ND3], and nocturnal 8 hr six times/week [ND6]) was administered to 100 chronic hemodialysis patients. A majority of patients (68%) were willing to undergo DHD for symptomatic benefits or increase in survival. An increase in energy level (94%) and improvement in sleep (57%) were the most common potential benefits that would justify DHD, but only 19% would undergo DHD for an increase in survival of < or =3 years. Only 20% and 7% would consider ND3 and ND6, respectively. The most common reported barriers were inadequate time for self (50%) and family (53%), followed by transportation difficulties (53%). Most patients would undergo DHD for symptomatic or survival benefits, but not ND3 or ND6. Disruption of personal time, however, is an important consideration. Success of DHD program would depend on arrangements for transportation to dialysis unit.