Modeling and performance evaluation of stealthy false data injection attacks on smart grid in the presence of corrupted measurements

The false data injection (FDI) attack cannot be detected by the traditional anomaly detection techniques used in the energy system state estimators. In this paper, we demonstrate how FDI attacks can be constructed blindly, i.e., without system knowledge, including topological connectivity and line reactance information. Our analysis reveals that existing FDI attacks become detectable (consequently unsuccessful) by the state estimator if the data contains grossly corrupted measurements such as device malfunction and communication errors. The proposed sparse optimization based stealthy attacks construction strategy overcomes this limitation by separating the gross errors from the measurement matrix. Extensive theoretical modeling and experimental evaluation show that the proposed technique performs more stealthily (has less relative error) and efficiently (fast enough to maintain time requirement) compared to other methods on IEEE benchmark test systems.Comment: Keywords: Smart grid, False data injection, Blind attack, Principal component analysis (PCA), Journal of Computer and System Sciences, Elsevier, 201

Swarm Intelligence Based Multi-phase OPF For Peak Power Loss Reduction In A Smart Grid

Recently there has been increasing interest in improving smart grids efficiency using computational intelligence. A key challenge in future smart grid is designing Optimal Power Flow tool to solve important planning problems including optimal DG capacities. Although, a number of OPF tools exists for balanced networks there is a lack of research for unbalanced multi-phase distribution networks. In this paper, a new OPF technique has been proposed for the DG capacity planning of a smart grid. During the formulation of the proposed algorithm, multi-phase power distribution system is considered which has unbalanced loadings, voltage control and reactive power compensation devices. The proposed algorithm is built upon a co-simulation framework that optimizes the objective by adapting a constriction factor Particle Swarm optimization. The proposed multi-phase OPF technique is validated using IEEE 8500-node benchmark distribution system.Comment: IEEE PES GM 2014, Washington DC, US

Enhanced Estimation of Autoregressive Wind Power Prediction Model Using Constriction Factor Particle Swarm Optimization

Accurate forecasting is important for cost-effective and efficient monitoring and control of the renewable energy based power generation. Wind based power is one of the most difficult energy to predict accurately, due to the widely varying and unpredictable nature of wind energy. Although Autoregressive (AR) techniques have been widely used to create wind power models, they have shown limited accuracy in forecasting, as well as difficulty in determining the correct parameters for an optimized AR model. In this paper, Constriction Factor Particle Swarm Optimization (CF-PSO) is employed to optimally determine the parameters of an Autoregressive (AR) model for accurate prediction of the wind power output behaviour. Appropriate lag order of the proposed model is selected based on Akaike information criterion. The performance of the proposed PSO based AR model is compared with four well-established approaches; Forward-backward approach, Geometric lattice approach, Least-squares approach and Yule-Walker approach, that are widely used for error minimization of the AR model. To validate the proposed approach, real-life wind power data of \textit{Capital Wind Farm} was obtained from Australian Energy Market Operator. Experimental evaluation based on a number of different datasets demonstrate that the performance of the AR model is significantly improved compared with benchmark methods.Comment: The 9th IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications (ICIEA) 201

Feasibility of multiphoton microscopy-based quantification of antibiotic uptake into neutrophil granulocytes

Antibiotic levels in livestock are usually evaluated through destructive analysis. Taking advantage of the fluorescent properties of marbofloxacin (MBX) and trovafloxacin (TVX), multiphoton microscopy (MPM) was evaluated as a minimally invasive and nondestructive method to determine the penetration of TVX and MBX into sheep neutrophils. Standard curves were measured with drug-only solutions and suggested that MBX was more suited for this type of analysis. The intracellular concentration of both TVX and MBX was higher than the extracellular concentration after incubating neutrophils for 30 min at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 mu g/ml for both the drugs. The intracellular concentration of TVX increased with the extracellular concentration but was always greater than the extracellular concentration, suggesting active internalization. On the other hand, intracellular/extracellular ratio (I/E) peaked at 1.6-fold I/E for 1 mu g/ml and then gradually decreased with increased concentration to 1.2-fold I/E at 100 mu g/ml. For the first time, this study showed the use of MPM to quantify antibiotic uptake by sheep neutrophils and observed that both antibiotics were taken up by sheep neutrophils beyond extracellular levels. (C) The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI

A multi-physics simulation approach to Investigating the underlying mechanisms of Low-Speed Pre-Ignition

As part of the effort to improve thermal efficiency, engines are being significantly downsized. A common issue in gasoline engines which limits thermal efficiency and is further exacerbated by downsizing, is low speed pre ignition (LSPI). This thesis uses a Multiphysics approach, initially using a validated 1D engine performance model of a GTDI engine, to define realistic boundary conditions. A strong emphasis on validating each simulation methodology as much as possible is maintained at each stage. A hydrodynamic model of the ring-liner and Lagrangian CFD model are used to investigate the impact of engine oil fluid properties on the mass of oil transported from the crevice volume to the combustion chamber. A heat transfer and evaporation model of a single droplet inside an engine environment was developed for alkanes of chain lengths representing the extremes of the chain lengths present in engine oil. It was found the droplet generally evaporates at a crank angle which is close to the point where LSPI is observed. The hydrocarbon study ends with a CFD constant volume simulation to understand why engine oil like hydrocarbons ignite in rig tests but not in an engine. This research then proceeds to develop a single particle detergent model in an engine environment, to initially understand why ignition occurs when a calcium Ca based detergent is present but not in the case of a magnesium Mg detergent. It was found from simulation that the common theory of calcium oxide CaO resulting from thermal degradation from the previous cycle then reacting with Carbon dioxide CO2 late in the compression stroke is unlikely. There is a stronger case for the CaO particle causing ignition as it is present in fresh engine oil sprayed onto the liner. As predicted by the hydrocarbon evaporation model the oil will cover and protect the CaO particle until late in the compression stroke when the oil will evaporate, exposing the CaO particle to CO2

How Earning Per Share (EPS) affects on share price and firm value

This article was published in European Journal of Business and Management [© 2014 European Journal of Business and Management ] and the definite version is available at : http://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/EJBM/article/viewFile/13572/13841 The article website is at: http://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/EJBM/article/view/13572/13841 The journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) License.Earnings per Share (EPS) is generally considered most important factor to determine share price and firm value. Literature shows that most of the individual investors take their individual investment decision based on the EPS. This paper attempts to provide empirical evidence on how EPS affect the share price movement. We have collected and analyzed 22 scheduled banks 110 firm year data and found that share price does not move as fast as the EPS move. We also further found that the share price movement depends on micro and macro economic factors on the economy. We suggest that investors must consider other factors as well as EPS in order to invest in the security market.Publishe

Education and communicating positive young minds in creating sustainable environment and development

Purpose: Proposed course content for each group age is outlined from the early age of a child to the university education system. However, these course contents are a recommendation which indicates the importance of continuity to ensure that the young generations will subsequently not only aware of preserving the environment and its surroundings but, will also work hard to improve the existing situation of the world for a quality environment and a better place to live. Design/methodology/approach: These programs and activities include the awareness and sensitivity to the depleting greens, flora and fauna, the climatic change due to human activities and the pollution to soil and groundwater. Humans, animals and other living things rely greatly on soil, water air and the sun. Findings: Thus, it is critical to inculcate better understanding and creating a more caring society to ensure the sustainability of the earth for the future existence of mankind. Research limitations/implications: In this paper, a discussion on the needs of introducing environmental geotechnics to young generations as early as in the pre-school education is deemed necessary as being conducted by most developed countries. Practical implications: Developing countries such as Malaysia must start now to ensure that existing resources such as its soils and groundwater quality are preserved as the country continue to strive in becoming a developed and modern country by the year 2020. Originality/value: This paper is original. Paper type: Research paper

Soft biometrics: gender recognition from unconstrained face images using local feature descriptor

Gender recognition from unconstrained face images is a challenging task due to the high degree of misalignment, pose, expression, and illumination variation. In previous works, the recognition of gender from unconstrained face images is approached by utilizing image alignment, exploiting multiple samples per individual to improve the learning ability of the classifier, or learning gender based on prior knowledge about pose and demographic distributions of the dataset. However, image alignment increases the complexity and time of computation, while the use of multiple samples or having prior knowledge about data distribution is unrealistic in practical applications. This paper presents an approach for gender recognition from unconstrained face images. Our technique exploits the robustness of local feature descriptor to photometric variations to extract the shape description of the 2D face image using a single sample image per individual. The results obtained from experiments on Labeled Faces in the Wild (LFW) dataset describe the effectiveness of the proposed method. The essence of this study is to investigate the most suitable functions and parameter settings for recognizing gender from unconstrained face images

Determinants of Intra-Industry Trade between Pakistan and Selected SAARC Countries

This paper analyses country-specific and industry-specific determinants of intra-industry trade (IIT) between Pakistan and other SAARC countries using panel data techniques. This paper also disentangles total IIT into horizontal and vertical IIT. The Vertical IIT is further divided into high-quality and low quality IIT. This paper finds that country-specific variables are more important in explaining the IIT relative to industry-specific variables. The decomposition of IIT shows that in the SAARC region Pakistan’s IIT is mostly comprised of the vertical IIT. The share of horizontal IIT is comparatively less. The paper offers specific policy recommendations for the promotion of IIT in the SAARC region. JEL classification: F12, F14, F15 Keywords: IIT, Horizontal IIT, Vertical II