Privacy Analysis of Forward and Backward Untraceable RFID Authentication Schemes

In this paper, we analyze the first known provably secure Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) authentication schemes that are designed to provide forward untraceability and backward untraceability: the L-K and S-M schemes. We show how to trace tags in the L-K scheme without needing to corrupt tags. We also show that if a standard cryptographic pseudorandom bit generator (PRBG) is used in the S-M scheme, then the scheme may fail to provide forward untraceability and backward untraceability. To achieve the desired untraceability features, we show that the S-M scheme can use a robust PRBG which provides forward security and backward security. We also note that the backward security is stronger than necessary for the backward untraceability of the S-M scheme.     

Mechanical behaviour of fired clay materials subjected to freeze–thaw cycles

The aim of this paper is to study the frost durability of fired clay materials. The behaviour of five fired clay materials with different physical and mechanical properties (porosity, permeability, mechanical strengths and elasticity modulus) subjected to freeze–thaw cycles is analysed. The strains of specimens and the evolution of the main properties with the number of cycles are assessed. The analysis shows that the pore distribution is not the only important parameter but that the tensile strength is also significant. A complete data bank is thus built up to study the effects of the physical and mechanical parameters on frost resistance and to determine how these parameters are affected by frost cycles. It will be possible to use these data to improve the modelling of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical phenomena involved during the freezing and thawing process in porous media.     

Selective IR absorption in molecular nanofilms

We have formulated a microscopic theory of optical properties of ultrathin molecular films (nanofilms), i.e. quasi 2D systems parallel to XY planes bounded by two surfaces. Exposure of nanofilms to the external electromagnetic fields has result in creation of excitons - but different than bulk ones. Harmonic exciton states were calculated using the method of two-time, retarded, temperature dependent Green’s functions. It has been shown that two types of optical excitations can occur: bulk and surface exciton states. Exciton energy dispersion law shows discrete behavior with non-zero values. Analysis of the dielectric properties of these crystalline systems for low exciton concentration shows that the permittivity strongly depends on boundary parameters and the thickness of the film. In addition, permittivity shows very narrow and discrete dependence of external electromagnetic field frequency, which is a consequence of both resonance and quantum size effects. Influences of boundary conditions on optical characteristics (through analyses of dynamical absorption coefficient) of these nanostructures were specially and in details explored.     

Cognitive amplify‐and‐forward relay networks with beamforming under primary user power constraint over Nakagami‐m fading channels

In this paper, we analyze the performance of cognitive amplify‐and‐forward (AF) relay networks with beamforming under the peak interference power constraint of the primary user (PU). We focus on the scenario that beamforming is applied at the multi‐antenna secondary transmitter and receiver. Also, the secondary relay network operates in channel state information‐assisted AF mode, and the signals undergo independent Nakagami‐m fading. In particular, closed‐form expressions for the outage probability and symbol error rate (SER) of the considered network over Nakagami‐m fading are presented. More importantly, asymptotic closed‐form expressions for the outage probability and SER are derived. These tractable closed‐form expressions for the network performance readily enable us to evaluate and examine the impact of network parameters on the system performance. Specifically, the impact of the number of antennas, the fading severity parameters, the channel mean powers, and the peak interference power is addressed. The asymptotic analysis manifests that the peak interference power constraint imposed on the secondary relay network has no effect on the diversity gain. However, the coding gain is affected by the fading parameters of the links from the primary receiver to the secondary relay network. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Laser probe measurements of quality evolution of solder joints during thermal cycling ageing tests

We present the results of a non-destructive measuring method allowing us to characterize the evolution of solder joints during thermal cycling ageing tests. The method uses a high resolution optical probe to detect selectively pure Joule and Peltier thermal responses of the solder joint subject to a given current pulse. The results show the Peltier and Joule responses to be good indicators for the evaluation of the age and the degradation of solder joints.     

Impact Sensitivity Reduction Via Exo-Electron Control

Many materials, upon fracturing, emit electrons (exo-electrons) by a process called fracto-emission. For a substance or mixture that can deflagrate or detonate upon impact or friction, these exo-electrons may contribute to the initiation of deflagration or detonation. Some materials, such as p-type semiconductors, can absorb exo-electrons and, as used as additives, can reduce the impact or friction sensitivity of propellants or explosives. It was found that the addition of 1% p-type silicon powder did decrease the impact sensitivity of a propellant consisting of ammonium perchlorate in a polybutadiene matrix, but did not reduce the impact sensitivity of powdered cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), and pentaerythritol trinitrate (PETN).     

Polyacrylonitrile‐carbon Nanotube‐polyacrylonitrile: A Versatile Robust Platform for Flexible Multifunctional Electronic Devices in Medical Applications

Flexible multifunctional electronic devices are of high interest for a wide range of applications including thermal therapy and respiratory devices in medical treatment, safety equipment, and structural health monitoring systems. This paper reports a scalable and efficient strategy of manufacturing a polyacrylonitrile‐carbon nanotube‐polyacrylonitrile (PAN‐CNT‐PAN) robust flexible platform for multifunctional electronic devices including flexible heaters, temperature sensors, and flexible thermal flow sensors. The key advantages of this platform include low cost, porosity, mechanical robustness, and electrical stability under mechanical bending, enabling the development of fast‐response flexible heaters with a response time of ≈1.5 s and relaxation time of ≈1.7 s. The temperature‐sensing functionality is also investigated with a range of temperature coefficient of resistances from ?650 to ?900 ppm K^?1. A flexible hot‐film sensing concept is successfully demonstrated using PAN‐CNT‐PAN with a high sensitivity of 340 mV (m s^?1)^?1. The sensitivity enhancement of 50% W^?1 is also observed with increasing supply power. The low cost, porosity, versatile, and robust properties of the proposed platform will enable the development of multifunctional electronic devices for numerous applications such as flexible thermal management, temperature stabilization in industrial processing, temperature sensing, and flexible/wearable devices for human healthcare applications.     

A study on methane–air premixed flames interacting with syngas–air premixed flames

Numerical study on the interaction between methane–air and syngas–air premixed flames is conducted according to equivalence ratio and global strain rate in detailed chemistry. This study targets at understanding of an interacting combustion system as an alternative retrofit concept where one can modify the existing facilities minimally in industrial and power plant burners in order to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. It is seen that methane premixed flame interacting with syngas premixed flame can be sustained even over the rich flammable limit of single methane premixed flame. The inspection of detailed flame structure such as the distributions of major species and chain carrier radicals, flame separation distance, spatial flow velocity, and spatial distribution of the rate of production and consumption of CH₄, H₂, and CO is also conducted to depict the flame interactions. The importance of global strain rate and thus the flame separation distance in the enhanced burning of methane premixed flame is also stressed through the inspection of the consumption rates of H₂, CO, and CH₄. Anomalous phenomena such as the migration of premixed flame cross the stagnation plane and the nearly constant flame separation distance are also discussed.     

The efficient lignocellulose-based sorbent for oil spill treatment from polyurethane and agricultural residue of Vietnam

In this study, new and efficient sorbent with density 0.2 g/cm³ was fabricated by incorporating rice straw into polyurethane matrix to get an open cell structure material with high oil uptake capacity. The influences of various important factors such as amount of adding rice straw, size of rice straw particles, and adsorption time on oil adsorption capacity of new sorbent material were investigated. The results showed that the oil absorption rate occurred fast in first 15–30 min, then slowed down and reached saturation level after about 2 h of treatment. Oil adsorption capacity of the new sorbent material was relatively high, up to 12.0 g/g. In comparison with pristine polyurethane or lignocellulosic materials, the new sorbents had higher oil adsorption capacity. Some characteristics of the as-obtained sorbent, such as surface shapes and porosity, were also studied by SEM analysis.