The effect of probe interval estimation on attack detection performance of a WLAN independent intrusion detection system

A new niche of densely populated, unprotected networks is becoming more prevalent in public areas such as Shopping Malls, defined here as independent open-access networks, which have attributes that make attack detection more challenging than in typical enterprise networks. To address these challenges, new detection systems which do not rely on knowledge of internal device state are investigated here. This paper shows that this lack of state information requires an additional metric (The exchange timeout window) for detection of WLAN Denial of Service Probe Flood attacks. Variability in this metric has a significant influence on the ability of a detection system to reliably detect the presence of attacks. A parameter selection method is proposed which is shown to provide reliability and repeatability in attack detection in WLANs. Results obtained from ongoing live trials are presented that demonstrate the importance of accurately estimating probe request and probe response timeouts in future Independent Intrusion Detection Systems.

Use of an earthworm lysosomal biomarker for the ecological assessment of pollution from an industrial plastics fire

A low-cost field technique employing retention of the dye neutral-red by lysosomes in coelomocyte cells taken from earthworms (Lumbricus castaneus), was used as a means of assessing the ecological effects (if any) of an industrial accident. Earthworms and soil samples were collected at the site of a large industrial plastics fire in Thetford, UK along a 200 m transect leading from the factory perimeter fence, over a layer of molten plastic impregnated soil and into the surrounding forest. Coelomic fluid extracted from the earthworms was dye-loaded with neutral-red and lysosomal leaking observed. Metal residues in soil and earthworms were found to be highly elevated close to the factory perimeter and to rapidly drop to background levels within the first 50 m of the transect. Coelomocyte cells taken from earthworms adjacent to the factory perimeter showed the shortest period of neutral-red retention (2 min); cells taken from worms further into the surrounding forest had a longer retention time (12 min), whilst cells taken from worms from a control site showed even greater retention times (25 min). Thus, the neutral-red retention times correlated negatively with measured residues of heavy metals in the earthworms, the higher the body metal concentration the shorter the retention time. This field trial has demonstrated the validity of using an in vitro cellular biomarker technique for use in biological impact assessment along gradients of contamination.

Finite-element investigation of cold-formed steel portal frames in fire

This paper presents the results of a full-scale site fire test performed on a cold-formed steel portal frame building with semi-rigid joints. The purpose of the study is to establish a performance-based approach for the design of such structures in fire boundary conditions. In the full-scale site fire test, the building collapsed asymmetrically at a temperature of 714°C. A non-linear elasto-plastic finite-element shell model is described and is validated against the results of the full-scale test. A parametric study is presented that highlights the importance of in-plane restraint from the side rails in preventing an outwards sway failure for both a single portal and full building geometry model. The study also demonstrates that the semi-rigidity of the joints should be taken into account in the design. The single portal and full building geometry models display a close match to site test results with failure at 682°C and 704°C, respectively. A design case is described in accordance with Steel Construction Institute design recommendations. The validated single portal model is tested with pinned bases, columns protected, realistic loading and rafters subject to symmetric uniform heating in accordance with the ISO 834 standard fire curve; failure occurs at 703°C.

How to return to “normal” after a cardiac event: State of the Art Lecture

Electronic report