I-convergence in probabilistic n-normed space

In this article we introduce the notion of I-Cauchy sequence and I-convergent sequence in probabilistic n-normed space. The concept of I*-Cauchy sequence and I*-convergence in probabilistic n-normed space are also introduced and some of their properties related to these notions have been established.     

Entropy based spatial domain image watermarking and its performance analysis

Digital image watermarking technique based on LSB Substitution and Hill Cipher is presented and examined in this paper. For better imperceptibility watermark is inserted in the spatial domain. Further the watermark is implanted in the Cover Image block having the highest entropy value. To improve the security of the watermark hill cipher encryption is used. Both subjective and objective image quality assessment technique has been used to evaluate the imperceptibility of the proposed scheme.Further, the perceptual perfection of the watermarked pictures accomplished in the proposed framework has been contrasted and some state-of-art watermarking strategies. Test results demonstrates that the displayed method is robust against different image processing attacks like Salt and Peppers, Gaussian filter attack, Median filter attacks, etc.

     

Objective Oriented Multistage Ring Shear Test for Shear Strength of Landslide Soil

Ring shear tests were conducted on five samples of different nature with a modified Imperial College type ring shear machine. The three different testing methods used, (1) individual sample testing for each normal stress, (2) increasing load multistage ring shear test, and (3) reducing load multistage ring shear test, all showed similar effective residual internal friction angle for the samples, irrespective of testing method. However, effective residual shear intercept was different according to the testing methodology. The internal friction angle did not vary, particularly after the first minimum point in the stress displacement curve, although the residual shear intercept decreased with increase in the displacement. The thickness of the shearing zone increased along with the displacement. The remolded peak shear strength for saturated conditions at field dry density varied with the consolidation history. Measurement of remolded peak shear strength was possible in a single sample using the increasing load multistage ring shear test at normal consolidation. The equilibrium water content of the sample after the ring shear test was nearly equal to the plastic limit.     

Robust one-time password authentication scheme using smart card for home network environment

Due to the exponential growth of the Internet users and wireless devices, interests on home networks have been enormously increased in recent days. In digital home networks, home services including remote access and control to home appliances as well as services offered by service providers are alluring. However, the remote control services cause digital home networks to have various security threats. Hence, for digital home networks, robust security services, especially remote user authentication, should be considered. This paper presents a robust and efficient authentication scheme based on strong-password approach to provide secure remote access in digital home network environments. The proposed scheme uses lightweight computation modules including hashed one-time password and hash-chaining technique along with low-cost smart card technology. It aims to satisfy several security requirements including stolen smart card attack and forward secrecy with lost smart card as well as functional requirements including no verification table and no time synchronization. Comparing with the existing representative schemes, it can be validated that the proposed scheme is more robust authentication mechanism having better security properties. We have conducted formal verification of the proposed scheme.     

Molecular Cross-Talk between Gravity- and Light-Sensing Mechanisms in Euglena gracilis

Euglena gracilis is a photosynthetic flagellate. To acquire a suitable position in its surrounding aquatic environment, it exploits light and gravity primarily as environmental cues. Several physiological studies have indicated a fine-tuned relationship between gravity sensing (gravitaxis) and light sensing in E. gracilis. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown. The photoreceptor photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (PAC) has been studied for over a decade. Nevertheless, no direct/indirect interaction partner (upstream/downstream) has been reported for PAC. It has been shown that a specific protein, kinase A (PKA), showed to be involved in phototaxis and gravitaxis. The current study reports the localization of the specific PKA and its relationship with PAC.     

Redox State of Iron and Its Related Effects in the CaO–P2O5–Fe2O3 Glasses

Iron exists in Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ states in CaO–P₂O₅–Fe₂O₃ glasses and they impart characteristic optical absorption bands that allow analysis of relative proportion of the two species. This communication reports the redox states of glasses melted under air, argon, and oxygen atmospheres and relates them to the dissolution rates. The dissolution rate was found to be related to the redox state and it is lowered if the glass is melted under oxidizing atmospheres.     

Plastic <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-factor for three-point bend specimens: Analysis of instrumented Charpy impact test results for AISI 308 weld and AISI 316 stainless steels

In this paper, instrumented impact test results obtained using V-notch and precracked Charpy specimens of AISI 308 weld and AISI 316 stainless steels are analysed for determining the plastic -factor for three-point bend specimens used in J-integral evaluation. Tested 316 stainless steel specimens were in various thermal aging/cold-work conditions whereas 308 weld specimens were in the as-welded condition. The results are analysed using the various procedures proposed in the literature and compared with experimental and finite element results reported in the literature. Based on our analysis, two polynomial expressions of a/W for _pl are presented: one gives a sort of upper-bound in the a/W range 0.05–1.0 while the other gives conservative values (i.e., use of this results in J-R curves and J sufficiently conservative for engineering purposes). Both provide a smooth variation of _pl over the entire a/W range unlike some of the expressions given in the literature which show a discontinuous change at an intermediate a/W.     

Interesterification of fats

Interesterification changes the distribution of the fatty acids among the glycerides of fats or mixtures of fats from what was present originally. This affects the physical nature and behavior of fats. A discussion of this process from the standpoints of mechanism, catalysts, methods of monitoring the reaction and applications will be presented.     

Secure and robust multipath routings for advanced metering infrastructure

A Smart Grid is the modernization of the electricity grid using communication technology with the prime goals of reducing energy consumption as well as cost increasing reliability and creating new services for all participants. It comprises key components such as the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), which includes Neighborhood area network (NAN). When multi-hopping is considered in wireless communication, especially in WiFi and ZigBee, the range of the communication can be extended to communicate with the gateway collector in AMI network. Wireless mesh AMI network may have smart meters, a NAN gateway, and fixed as well as mobile repeaters. Though many techniques have been developed to secure on-demand routing protocols in wireless multi-hop ad-hoc networks, these protocols have shortcomings. In this paper, we propose two robust and secure multipath routing protocols for wireless mesh AMI networks. We have analyzed their robustness to various attacks. The simulation results show that the proposed protocols are better than existing secure routing protocols.