A group theoretic approach to construct cryptographically strong substitution boxes

In this paper, we present a method to construct a substitution box used in encryption applications. The proposed algorithm for the construction of substitution box relies on the linear fractional transform method. The design methodology is simple, while the confusion-creating ability of the new substitution box is complex. The strength of the proposed substitution box is evaluated, and an insight is provided to quantify the confusion-creating ability. In addition, tests are performed to assess the vulnerability of the encrypted data to algebraic and statistical attacks. The substitution box is critically analyzed by strict avalanche criterion, bit independent criterion, differential approximation probability test, linear approximation probability test, non-linearity test, and majority logic criterion. The performance of the proposed substitution box is also compared with those of some of the well-known counterparts including AES, APA, Gray, S₈, Skipjack, Xyi, and prime of residue substitution boxes. It is apparent that the performance, in terms of confusion-creating ability, of the new substitution box is better than those of some of the existing non-linear components used in encryption systems. The majority logic criterion is applied to these substitution boxes to further evaluate the strength and usefulness.     

Optimization of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in Saudi Arabia

Municipal solid waste (MSW) mainly comprises organics, paper, glass, plastics, metals, wood, etc. Rapid industrialization, high population growth rate, and fast urbanization have resulted in increased levels of pollution and MSW in Saudi Arabia. The amount of waste has been steadily increasing due to increasing human population and urbanization. Recovery refers to materials removed from the waste stream for the purpose of recycling and/or composting. There are various options available to convert solid waste to energy. Mainly, the following types of technologies are available: (1) sanitary landfill, (2) incineration, (3) pyrolysis, (4) gasification, and (5) anaerobic digestion. An integrated MSW disposal policy comprises (1) reduction of MSW source, (2) reuse of MSW, (3) recycling of MSW, (4) landfill and gas-to-energy conversion, and (5) MSW-to-energy conversion. Traditionally, MSWs have been disposed in landfills. Landfill is the most inexpensive waste disposal option. The main MSW disposal policies and barriers have been concluded in this study.     

基于K个最近邻点的遗传程序的数字调制样式自动分类

在许多不同的民用和军用领域,调制样式自动分类都是一个非常有趣的问题。本文提出了一种基于K个最近邻点(K-Nearest Neighbor,KNN)的遗传程序(Genetic Programming,GP)算法。该算法采用了基于K个最近邻点的遗传程序,用来识别BPSK、QPSK、16QAM和64QAM调制信号。该算法用高阶累积量作为输入特征,并使用一种分两个阶段的分类方法来改善分类精度。计算机仿真将所提出算法与已有的算法进行了比较,从而证明了该算法的优异性能。     

Industrie 4.0 Readiness: Green Computing in Relation with Key Performance Indicator for a Manufacturing Industry

Mobile Networks and Applications - An effective measure of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is of great significance to enhance the capabilities of a decision support system (DSS) of any...     

Scientists as political experts: Atomic scientists and their claims for expertise on international relations, 1945–1947

This paper explores the construction of scientists' expertise on international affairs through a study of the rhetoric of U.S. atomic scientists during public and policy‐making debates on the international control of atomic energy between 1945 and 1947. It explores the claims scientists made about the nature of their expertise on issues of diplomacy and international relations and how their expertise was produced and reproduced. The paper shows that scientists were able to successfully project themselves, in the public domain, as experts on political and diplomatic matters related to the atomic. In calling for the international control of atomic energy, scientists constructed their expert knowledge in contrast to, as they portrayed it, the failed expertise of diplomats and political thinkers. In boundary work through their speeches, articles, and government testimonies, scientists drew a line between the political and the scientific, but argued that, as scientist‐citizens, they were able to take their rational thinking from one realm into the other.     

Information extraction from scientific articles: a survey

In last few decades, with the advent of World Wide Web (WWW), world is being overloaded with huge data. This huge data carries potential information that once extracted, can be used for betterment of humanity. Information from this data can be extracted using manual and automatic analysis. Manual analysis is not scalable and efficient, whereas, the automatic analysis involves computing mechanisms that aid in automatic information extraction over huge amount of data. WWW has also affected overall growth in scientific literature that makes the process of literature review quite laborious, time consuming and cumbersome job for researchers. Hence a dire need is felt to automatically extract potential information out of immense set of scientific articles to automate the process of literature review. Therefore, in this study, aim is to present the overall progress concerning automatic information extraction from scientific articles. The information insights extracted from scientific articles are classified in two broad categories i.e. metadata and key-insights. As available benchmark datasets carry a significant role in overall development in this research domain, existing datasets against both categories are extensively reviewed. Later, research studies in literature that have applied various computational approaches applied on these datasets are consolidated. Major computational approaches in this regard include Rule-based approaches, Hidden Markov Models, Conditional Random Fields, Support Vector Machines, Naïve-Bayes classification and Deep Learning approaches. Currently, there are multiple projects going on that are focused towards the dataset construction tailored to specific information needs from scientific articles. Hence, in this study, state-of-the-art regarding information extraction from scientific articles is covered. This study also consolidates evolving datasets as well as various toolkits and code-bases that can be used for information extraction from scientific articles.

     

Lead Selenide (PbSe) Colloidal Quantum Dot Solar Cells with >10% Efficiency

Low‐cost solution‐processed lead chalcogenide colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have garnered great attention in photovoltaic (PV) applications. In particular, lead selenide (PbSe) CQDs are regarded as attractive active absorbers in solar cells due to their high multiple‐exciton generation and large exciton Bohr radius. However, their low air stability and occurrence of traps/defects during film formation restrict their further development. Air‐stable PbSe CQDs are first synthesized through a cation exchange technique, followed by a solution‐phase ligand exchange approach, and finally absorber films are prepared using a one‐step spin‐coating method. The best PV device fabricated using PbSe CQD inks exhibits a reproducible power conversion efficiency of 10.68%, 16% higher than the previous efficiency record (9.2%). Moreover, the device displays remarkably 40‐day storage and 8 h illuminating stability. This novel strategy could provide an alternative route toward the use of PbSe CQDs in low‐cost and high‐performance infrared optoelectronic devices, such as infrared photodetectors and multijunction solar cells.     

Thermally Resistive Electrospun Composite Membranes for Low‐Grade Thermal Energy Harvesting

In this work, thermally insulating composite mats of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) blends are used as the separator membranes. The membranes improve the thermal‐to‐electrical energy conversion efficiency of a thermally driven electrochemical cell (i.e., thermocell) up to 95%. The justification of the improved performance is an intricate relationship between the porosity, electrolyte uptake, electrolyte uptake rate of the electrospun fibrous mat, and the actual temperature gradient at the electrode surface. When the porosity is too high (87%) in PAN membranes, the electrolyte uptake and electrolyte uptake rate are significantly high as 950% and 0.53 µL s^?1, respectively. In such a case, the convective heat flow within the cell is high and the power density is limited to 32.7 mW m^?2. When the porosity is lesser (up to 81%) in PVDF membranes, the electrolyte uptake and uptake rate are relatively low as 434% and 0.13 µL s^?1, respectively. In this case, the convective flow shall be low, however, the maximum power density of 63.5 mW m^?2 is obtained with PVDF/PAN composites as the aforementioned parameters are optimized. Furthermore, multilayered membrane structures are also investigated for which a bilayered architecture produces highest power density of 102.7 mW m^?2.     

A computational study of unsteady radiative magnetohydrodynamic Blasius and Sakiadis flow with leading‐edge accretion (ablation)

The present study investigates the influence of the magnetic field, thermal radiation, Prandtl number, and leading‐edge accretion/ablation on Blasius and Sakiadis flow. The convective boundary condition is employed to investigate the heat transfer. The nondimensional governing boundary layer equations have been solved by the homotopy analysis method for different values of the pertinent parameters. The effects of these parameters on the dimensionless velocity, temperature, skin friction, and Nusselt number are also investigated for various values of relevant parameters affecting the flow and heat transfer phenomena. The most relevant outcomes of the present study are that enhancement in magnetic field strength undermines the flow velocity establishing thinner velocity boundary layer for both Blasius and Sakiadis flows while an increase in accretion/ablation effect at leading‐edge manifests in a deceleration in velocity for Blasius case and the opposite trend is observed for Sakiadis flow. Another important outcome is that an increase in radiation and accretion/ablation at leading‐edge upsurges the fluid temperature leading to enhancement in the thermal boundary layer. For both Blasius and Sakiadis flow, the skin friction coefficient and the heat transfer rate decline with the enhancement of the leading‐edge accretion parameter. The results are compared with the existing data and are found in good agreement.     

Optimization of Microchannel Heat Sinks Using Genetic Algorithm

In this study, a genetic algorithm is employed to minimize the entropy generation rate in microchannel heat sinks. The entropy generation rate allows the combined effects of thermal performance and pressure drop to be assessed simultaneously as the heat sink interacts with the surrounding flow field. Previously developed models for the heat transfer, pressure drop and entropy generation rate are used in the optimization procedure. The results of optimization are compared with existing results obtained by the Newton–Raphson method. It is observed that the GA gives better overall performance of the microchannel heat sinks.