Number Of Countermeasures Research Articles

Effects of Working Environment on the Performance of Executives

Working environment plays a crucial role in enhancing the performance of an individual and the organization as a whole. In poor working environment, it becomes particularly challenging to maintain a productive and satisfying work life and in turn threatens the work success. An attempt has been made to study the level of satisfaction of the executives in terms of the various environmental factors that are contributing for the effective performance. The authors emphasize the need to follow the right mix of management and environmental techniques and behavior principles, both formal and informal to create no boredom working environment. Article concludes with a number of counter measures to be followed by the organization to create a conducive working environment backed up by genuine efforts to motivate the human resources.

Power analysis attacks and algorithmic approaches to their countermeasures for Koblitz curve cryptosystems

Because of their shorter key sizes, cryptosystems based on elliptic curves are being increasingly used in practical applications. A special class of elliptic curves, namely, Koblitz curves, offers an additional, but crucial advantage of considerably reduced processing time. Power analysis attacks are applied to cryptosystems that use scalar multiplication on Koblitz curves. Both the simple and the differential power analysis attacks are considered and a number of countermeasures are suggested. While the proposed countermeasures against the simple power analysis attacks rely on making the power consumption for the elliptic curve scalar multiplication independent of the secret key, those for the differential power analysis attacks depend on randomizing the secret key prior to each execution of the scalar multiplication. These countermeasures are computationally efficient and suitable for hardware implementation.

Encryption wars: shifting tactics

The growing availability of powerful encryption has in effect rewritten the rule book for creating, storing, and transmitting computer data. People everywhere rightly regard confidentiality as essential for conducting business and protecting personal privacy. But governments worldwide have been sent into a spin, for fear secret encryption keys will add to the weapons of terrorists and other criminals. Some nations have even attempted to control the technology by constructing a maze of regulations and laws aimed at blocking its import, export, and/or use. Such bans have largely failed. The war over encryption has moved beyond controlling the technology itself. Now, some governments are granting law enforcement agencies new powers and funding the development of new tools to get at computerized data, encrypted or otherwise. Rising to that challenge, privacy proponents are striking back with new techniques for hiding data and preserving anonymity in electronic communications. A number of countermeasures have been engineered to augment or replace encryption. Among them are anonymizers, which conceal the identity of the person sending or receiving information, and steganography, which hides the information itself. The paper describes these techniques.

A study of the problem of the aging of books in university libraries: Strategies for countering its effects

This study reviews and analyzes the problem of aging of books in university libraries. Indexes are proposed for judging the aging process including the aging time limit, the over-age book rate, and the aging rate. Based on these indexes, a mathematical model of the aging process is established, reduced to an algebraic equation, and calculated by a simple recurrence formula. The Mean Unit Price (MUP), an economic factor, is introduced. By using a dynamic model, a prediction of the time sequence of the MUP is made and a number of countermeasures are proposed for the control or retardation of the aging process. An index of economic benefit is introduced, using the principles of input-output analysis, for the appraisal of the effectivensess of the countermeasures

Driving While Intoxicated

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) continues to be a major societal concern, exacting a high personal and financial cost. The present article reviews the current scope of the drinking-driving problem and a number of countermeasures employed to reduce it. Primary prevention strategies target young drivers with the goal of preventing the initiation of drinking-driving behavior. Driver's training and drinking-driver education classes have had a minimal impact on DWI. Increasing the minimum age for purchasing alcohol has been considerably more effective. Secondary interventions target the general driving population and are based on the principles of general deterrence. Increasing the perceived risk of arrest and punishment appears to have a short-term impact; increased severity of punishment also has limited effects. Tertiary interventions, or specific deterrents, target convicted DWI offenders with the goal of reducing recidivism. Alcohol education and rehabilitation have shown only a weak positive impact on DWI. License suspension/revocation appears to be an effective and efficient specific deterrent. Overall, it is suggested that the approach with the greatest potential for reducing the drinking-driving problem is an integrated, complementary countermeasure aimed at both person and sociocultural factors.

Corrosion of Concrete by Autotrophes

Abstract The various types of sulfur bacteria which can be present in concrete sewers are described and conditions which are necessary for their existence are listed. There are three steps in the destruction of concrete sewers by autotrophes: (1) production of hydrogen sulfide by the reduction of sulfates or by the action of proteolytic bacteria, (2) oxidation of the hydrogen sulfide to sulfuric acid by the sulfur bacteria, and (3) decomposition of the calcium silicates of the portland cement by the sulfuric acid. A number of countermeasures which can be taken to prevent these conditions are discussed. They include the designing of sewers for rapid flow, ventilation, and the use of protective coatings. 3.3.4