Secure communication interface design for IoT applications, using the GSM network

In this work, a secure short messaging service (SMS)-based communication interface is designed. The interface has applications in the internet of things (IoT) such as machine to machine (M2M) communications, and human-operated remote system management. The case study of waking a personal computer remotely is considered, and a complete proof-of-conceptis implemented for this purpose, using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based receiving device and an Androidbased transmitting device. On the Android device, SMS messages are generated in software using a “rolling code” system based on linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs), then encrypted with the extended tiny encryption algorithm (XTEA) cipher. The FPGA employs both hardware XTEA decryption, and hardware systems to validate incoming messages

The computation of previously inaccessible digits of π² and Catalan's constant

We recently concluded a very large mathematical calculation, uncovering objects that until recently were widely considered to be forever inaccessible to computation. Our computations stem from the “BBP” formula for π, which was discovered in 1997 using a computer program implementing the “PSLQ” integer relation algorithm. This formula has the remarkable property that it permits one to directly calculate binary digits of π, beginning at an arbitrary position d, without needing to calculate any of the first d - 1 digits. Since 1997 numerous other BBP-type formulas have been discovered for various mathematical constants, including formulas for π² (both in binary and ternary bases) and for Catalan’s constant. In this article we describe the computation of base-64 digits of π², base-729 digits of π², and base-4096 digits of Catalan’s constant, in each case beginning at the ten trillionth place, computations that involved a total of approximately 1:549 x 1019 floating-point operations. We also discuss connections between BBP-type formulas and the age-old unsolved questions of whether and why constants such as π; π²; log 2, and Catalan’s constant have “random” digits

Utilization of a new bdelloid rotifer (Philodina acuticornis odiosa) assay to evaluate the effect of salinity on the toxicity of chlorothalonil

Acute (24 h) toxicity tests were conducted to determine the toxicity of the fungicide chlorothalonil towards the freshwater bdelloid rotifer (Philodina acuticornis odiosa). Since rotifers are the dominant zooplankton species in many inland freshwater lakes in Australia, the influence of salinity on chlorothalonil toxicty was also assessed. The rotifers used in this study appeared to be reasonably tolerant to changes in salinity, with little mortality observed at 3760 &micro;S cm-1, increasing thereafter at higher salinity. The bdelloid rotifers were, however, found to be highly sensitive to chlorothalonil (24 h LC50, 3.2 &micro;g L-1) with results also suggesting that as salinity increases, so does toxicity (e.g., 24 h LC50 at 5000 &micro;S cm-1, 0.5 &micro;g L-1). <br /

Effect of increasing salinity on the acute toxicity of a commercial endosulfan formulation to the bdelloid rotifer Philodina acuticornis odiosa

Pesticides, such as endosulfan, can enter surface waters such as lakes and rivers, potentially posing an ecological risk. Rotifers are a dominant zooplankton species in many inland freshwater lakes in Australia; such lakes can also experience increased salinities. Acute toxicity tests (24 h) were conducted to determine the toxicity of a commercial formaulation of endosulfan to the freshwater rotifer Philodina sp. and to investigate the influence of increasing salinity on endosulfan toxicity. Rotifers were found to be relatively tolerant to endosulfan with an EC50 of 1.75 mgL-1 (a.i.), with results also suggesting that there are no interactive effects of salinity on endosulfan toxicity

Semi-group Conditions for Affine Algebraic Plane Curves with More than One Place at Infinity

An interesting and open question is the classification of affine algebraic plane curves. Abhyankar and Moh [1] completely described the possible links at infinity for those curves where the link has just one component, a knot. Such curves are said to have one place at infinity. The Abhyankar-Moh result has been of great assistance in classifying those polynomials which define a connected curve with one place at infinity. This paper provides a new proof of the Abhyankar-Moh result which is then used to find a description for the case where the polynomial defines a curve with one point at infinity

Factors Affecting Profitability of Microfinance Institutions (A Study of MFIs in Southern Nation Nationalities Peoples Regional State)

This study examined internal and external factors affecting profitability of microfinance institutions of southern nations nationalities people’s regional state (SNNPRS) covering the period of 2009-2013. In doing so, the study adopted quantitative research method mainly focused on secondary document analysis and financial statement of the period, and the study used multiple linear Regression model, descriptive statistics and excel sheet for three MFIS data analysis to measure profitability; Return on Asset (ROA).Linear regression model was applied to investigate the impact of financing structure(FAS),Operating efficiency(OPE),size ,Age ,and Gross domestic product(GDP) on major MFI profitability. The outcome of the study shows that Financing structure and age of microfinance institutions has a positive and statistically significant effect on their profitability. However, Operating efficiency and, Size have a negative and statistically insignificant effect and, gross domestic product (GDP)had a Positive coefficient and was also statistically insignificant, implying that the improvement in economic condition measured in terms of GDP growth did not affect profitability of SNNPRS MFIs and additionally age of MFIs was used to check whether the learning effect can determine profitability of SNNPRS MFIs. The result showed a positive coefficient and statistical significant; indicating that the more MFIs become mature, the higher their profitability, so that as age going longer the profitability of SNNPRs MFIs will increase. The study suggested that management of microfinance institutions need to search available ways to reduce the operating costs and employ a good credit management policy. And also the study suggest that the management of MFIs should look for another funding source rather than depending on donation to measure their efficiency and stand by on their own feet. On top of this, the government needs to improve different facilities which enable microfinance institutions to be efficient and stable source of finance for the poor peoples of the region. Keywords: Profitability, Microfinance institution

Ecotoxicity Thresholds for Ametryn, Diuron, Hexazinone and Simazine in Fresh and Marine Waters

Triazine and urea herbicides are two groups of photosystem II inhibiting herbicides frequently detected in surface, ground and marine waters. Yet, there are few water quality guidelines for herbicides. Ecotoxicity thresholds (ETs) for ametryn, hexazinone and simazine (triazine herbicides) and diuron (a urea herbicide) were calculated using the Australian and New Zealand method for deriving guideline values to protect fresh and marine ecosystems. Four ETs were derived for each chemical and ecosystem that should theoretically protect 99, 95, 90 and 80% of species (i.e. PC99, PC95, PC90 and PC80, respectively). For all four herbicides, the phototrophic species were significantly more sensitive than non-phototrophic species, and therefore, only the former data were used to calculate the ETs. Comparison of the ET values to measured concentrations in 2606 samples from 15 waterways that discharge to the Great Barrier Reef (2011–2015) found three exceedances of the simazine PC99, regular exceedances (up to 30%) of the PC99 in a limited number of rivers for ametryn and hexazinone and frequent (> 40%) exceedances of the PC99 and PC95 ETs in at least four waterways for diuron. There were no exceedances of the marine ETs in inshore reef areas. Further, ecotoxicity data are required for ametryn and hexazinone to fresh and marine phototrophic species, for simazine to marine phototrophic species, for tropical phototrophic species, repeated pulse exposures and long-term (2 to 12 months) exposures to environmentally relevant concentrations.Griffith Sciences, Griffith Institute for Drug DiscoveryNo Full Tex