[Book review] Rights of the Accused, Crime Control and Protection of Victims

Review of: Rights of the Accused, Crime Control and Protection of Victims. Edited by Eliahu Harnon & Alex Stein. A special volume of the Israel Law Review, Vol. 31, Nos. 1-3, Winter-Summer 1997. Published by the Faculty of Law, Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

On efficient data integrity and data origin authentication for wireless sensor networks utilising block cipher design techniques

Analysis of the generic attacks and countermeasures for block cipher based message authentication code algorithms (MAC) in sensor applications is undertaken; the conclusions are used in the design of two new MAC constructs Quicker Block Chaining MAC1 (QBC-MAC1) and Quicker Block Chaining MAC2 (QBC-MAC2). Using software simulation we show that our new constructs point to improvements in usage of CPU instruction clock cycle and energy requirement when benchmarked against the de facto Cipher Block Chaining MAC (CBC-MAC) based construct used in the TinySec security protocol for wireless sensor networks.

Model-based pilot and data power adaptation in psam with periodic delayed feedback

We consider the optimum design of pilot-symbol-assisted modulation (PSAM) schemes with feedback. The received signal is periodically fed back to the transmitter through a noiseless delayed link and the time-varying channel is modeled as a Gauss-Markov process. We optimize a lower bound on the channel capacity which incorporates the PSAM parameters and Kalman-based channel estimation and prediction. The parameters available for the capacity optimization are the data power adaptation strategy, pilot spacing and pilot power ratio, subject to an average power constraint. Compared to the optimized open-loop PSAM (i.e., the case where no feedback is provided from the receiver), our results show that even in the presence of feedback delay, the optimized power adaptation provides higher information rates at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) in medium-rate fading channels. However, in fast fading channels, even the presence of modest feedback delay dissipates the advantages of power adaptation.

US NOAA Fisheries and UK SAHFOS CPR surveys: comparison of methods and data

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey has sampled four routes: Boston–Nova Scotia (1961–present), New York toward Bermuda (1976–present), Narragansett Bay–Mount Hope Bay–Rhode Island Sound (1998–present) and eastward of Chesapeake Bay (1974–1980). NOAA involvement began in 1974 when it assumed responsibility for the existing Boston–Nova Scotia route from what is now the UK's Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS). Training, equipment and computer software were provided by SAHFOS to ensure continuity for this and standard protocols for any new routes. Data for the first 14 years of this route were provided to NOAA by SAHFOS. Comparison of collection methods; sample processing; and sample identification, staging and counting techniques revealed near-consistency between NOAA and SAHFOS. One departure involved phytoplankton counting standards. This has since been addressed and the data corrected. Within- and between-survey taxonomic and life-stage names and their consistency through time were, and continue to be, an issue. For this, a cross-reference table has been generated that contains the SAHFOS taxonomic code, NOAA taxonomic code, NOAA life-stage code, National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) taxonomic code, Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) serial number and authority and consistent use/route. This table is available for review/use by other CPR surveys. Details of the NOAA and SAHFOS comparison and analytical techniques unique to NOAA are presented.

Plug Force Monitoring for the Control and Optimisation of the Thermoforming Process

Thermoforming processes generally employ sheet temperature monitoring as the primary means of process control. In this paper the development of an alternative system that monitors plug force is described. Tests using a prototype device have shown that the force record over a forming cycle creates a unique map of the process operation. Key process features such as the sheet modulus, sheet sag and the timing of the process stages may be readily observed, and the effects of changes in all of the major processing parameters are easily distinguished. Continuous, cycle-to-cycle tests show that the output is consistent and repeatable over a longer time frame, providing the opportunity for development of an on-line process control system. Further testing of the system is proposed.

Ultrafast coherent control and quantum encoding of molecular vibrations in D2+ using intense laser pulses

Intense, few-femtosecond pulse technology has enabled studies of the fastest vibrational relaxation processes. The hydrogen group vibrations can be imaged and manipulated using intense infrared pulses. Through numerical simulation, we demonstrate an example of ultrafast coherent control that could be effected with current experimental facilities, and observed using high-resolution time-of-flight spectroscopy. The proposal is a pump-probe-type technique to manipulate the D2+ ion with ultrashort pulse sequences. The simulations presented show that vibrational selection can be achieved through pulse delay. We find that the vibrational system can be purified to a two-level system thus realizing a vibrational qubit. A novel scheme for the selective transfer of population between these two levels, based on a Raman process and conditioned upon the delay time of a second control-pulse is outlined, and may enable quantum encoding with this system.