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An optimised homomorphic CRT-RSA algorithm for secure and efficient communication
Get PDFSecure and reliable exchange of information between devices is crucial for any network in the current digital world. This information is maintained
on storage devices, routing devices, and communication over the cloud. Cryptographic techniques are used to ensure the secure transmission of data, ensuring
the user’s privacy by storing and transmitting data in a particular format. Using
encryption, only the intended user possessing the key can access the information.
During data or essential transmission, the channel should be secured by using robust encryption techniques. Homomorphic Encryption (HE) techniques have been
used in the past for this purpose. However, one of the flaws of the conventional
HE is seen either in its slow transmission or fast key decryption. Thus, this paper proposes an optimized Homomorphic Encryption Chinese Remainder Theorem with a Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (HE-CRT-RSA) algorithm to overcome this challenge. The proposed Technique, HE-CRT-RSA, utilizes multiple keys for efficient
communication and security. In addition, the performance of the HE-CRT-RSA
algorithm was evaluated in comparison with the classical RSA algorithm. The
result of the proposed algorithm shows performance improvement with reduced
decryption time. It is observed that the proposed HE-CRT-RSA is 3% - 4% faster
than the classical Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA). The result also suggests that
HE-CRT-RSA effectively enhances security issues of the cloud and helps to decrease the involvement of intruders or any third party during communication or
inside the data/server centers
Blockchain-based security mechanism for the medical data at fog computing architecture of internet of things
Get PDFThe recent developments in fog computing architecture and cloud of things (CoT) technology includes data mining management and artificial intelligence operations. However, one of the
major challenges of this model is vulnerability to security threats and cyber-attacks against the fog
computing layers. In such a scenario, each of the layers are susceptible to different intimidations,
including the sensed data (edge layer), computing and processing of data (fog (layer), and storage
and management for public users (cloud). The conventional data storage and security mechanisms
that are currently in use appear to not be suitable for such a huge amount of generated data in the fog
computing architecture. Thus, the major focus of this research is to provide security countermeasures
against medical data mining threats, which are generated from the sensing layer (a human wearable
device) and storage of data in the cloud database of internet of things (IoT). Therefore, we propose
a public-permissioned blockchain security mechanism using elliptic curve crypto (ECC) digital
signature that that supports a distributed ledger database (server) to provide an immutable security
solution, transaction transparency and prevent the patient records tampering at the IoTs fog layer.
The blockchain technology approach also helps to mitigate these issues of latency, centralization, and
scalability in the fog model
Learning opportunities and diversity of engineering students’ background in interdisciplinary group projects
Get PDFDesign/methodology/approach
This research has measured, using National Student Survey (NSS) criteria, student experiences on an interdisciplinary project on a civil engineering programme. It benchmarks the quality of learning and student understanding and perceptions of learning. The method is based upon a literature review and questionnaire survey of students.
Purpose
In line with business goals of customer satisfaction, higher education institutions of learning consider excellent student experience a priority. Teaching and learning are important aspects of satisfaction that are monitored annually by universities using tools such as the NSS. NSS results are useful for educational planning and informing consumer choices. This research measured undergraduate student experiences on an interdisciplinary project using the NSS framework. Hinged on diversity, the purpose was to investigate whether full time, part time and degree apprenticeship students with varied work experience enhance their learning studying together on an interdisciplinary project.
Findings
Results indicate good amounts of peer influence on learning in a simulated interdisciplinary team setting supported by a mix of diverse work experience in students’ background.
Originality/value
Sections of the NSS are extended with additional questions to capture the impact that full-time, part-time and degree apprenticeship study modes, closely associated with students’ background of job experience, have on teaching and learning
Positive youth development through sport : investigating the impact of key social agents and life skills transfer
Get PDFWith youth sport considered a unique environment for promoting positive youth
development (PYD), this thesis endeavoured to investigate PYD through sport more closely.
Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the programme of research involved five studies aimed
to synthesise the current quantitative PYD through sport literature, investigate the motivational
climate created by coaches, parents, and peers and their relationship to life skills
development, the transfer of life skills to other life domains, and acquiring the views of current
youth sport coaches.
Study 1 systematically reviewed the quantitative PYD through sport literature. After
identifying and screening articles, 57 studies were retained for analysis. This analysis
generated a number of key findings, including the lack of papers measuring life skills transfer,
a fundamental element of PYD through sport. Other important findings included a high number
of articles adopting a cross-sectional research design, most research taking place in North
America, and a total of 100 different measures being used to assess PYD through sport
variables. This review assesses the reasons for these findings, and other findings, and offers
recommendations for future research. The information gathered from this review provided the
information and impetus for the wider programme of research.
Study 2 investigated the relationships between the coach, parent, and peer
motivational climates (mastery and ego) and participants’ life skills development (teamwork,
goal setting, social skills, emotional skills, problem solving and decision making, leadership,
time management, and interpersonal communication). Data from 308 youth sport participants
suggested that a peer-created mastery-climate was key, making the largest positive
contribution to all eight life skills and total life skills. Coaches and parents also contributed
positively to some life skills and total life skills. A parent-created ego-climate had the greatest
negative influence on life skills development; whereas, a coach-created ego-climate
contributed also made a negative contribution. Contrary to expectations, a peer-created ego-climate contributed positively to three life skills and total life skills.
Next, studies 3 and 4 were conducted to develop and provided initial validity and
reliability evidence for a new scale that assesses life skills transfer from sport to other life
domains. Study 3 involved a review of the literature investigating life skills transfer and resulted
in the development of 88 initial items representing six key transfer areas: school/ education,
home/ family, community, social settings, employment, and other life domains. During this
study, the content validity of the items was endorsed by 10 experts and a pilot study conducted
with 72 participants provided further validity evidence for the scale and an assessment of its
use in practice. Study 4 included data from 321 youth sport participants and refined the scale
further using the results of factor analysis and descriptive statistics. Collectively, these studies
provided initial evidence for the validity and reliability of the Life Skills Scale for Sport –
Transfer Scale (LSSS-TS), a measure which can be used by researchers and practitioners to
assess participants’ perceived life skills transfer from sport to other domains.
Overall, the findings from this programme of research suggest that more quantitative
analysis is required to assess key PYD outcomes through sport with the requirement for more
valid and reliable measures. Contributing to the research literature, this thesis also
demonstrated that a mastery-climate emanating from coaches, parents, and peers combined
help to develop participants’ life skills development through sport with peers deemed to be the
most important contributor to this development. A major contribution to the research literature
is the development of a valid and reliable measure of life skills transfer. This allows for future research to assess life skills transfer in more detail. Finally, this thesis contributes to the
research literature as it provides greater in-depth information of how UK coaches understand
the antecedents and consequences of PYD through sport
Voices from the past : a qualitative investigation of letters on happiness from 1930's Bolton
No full textThe Changing Nature of Happiness. Explorations of Happiness in the town of Bolton and beyond.
Get PDFThis study has examined happiness using data from self-reported perceptions from residents
of the northern town of Bolton. The aim was to replicate the 1938 Mass Observation
Worktown Happiness questionnaire in Bolton, in 2014. The data collected from the
replication was compared with that from 1938 to examine if, and how, happiness perceptions
had changed during a time of considerable economic and social change?
Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyse the data. The key findings from
2014, were that Boltonians were not happier than residents some 76 years earlier and that
the majority of respondents were happier away from the town and found it easier to be
happy at weekends, in contrast to their predecessors. In ranking Ten Aspects of
Happiness, Boltonians valued Good Humour and Leisure more favourably than Worktowners
and Religion which had been in the top 3 in 1938, moved down to 10th place. Economic
Security was the only aspect of happiness to remain in the top three. There was no change
in the proportion of participants who regarded Luck as important for happiness. A qualitative
analysis of letters from1938 and comments from 2014, revealed that ‘peace of mind and
contentment,’ paramount in 1938, did not feature in 2014, when people were happiest
undertaking chosen ‘activities’ in their free time. Personal relationships were important in
both periods, expressed as ‘family and friends’ in 2014 and ‘family and home’, and ‘giving to
and helping others’ in 1938. Since the days of Worktown, leisure has become more
individualised and centred in the home rather than in the town’s community.
These findings are a snapshot of happiness in one town from the late 1930s and 2010s.
This unique study adds to existing knowledge on happiness perceptions by highlighting
similarities and differences across a 76-year period. This is unique in the world research
literature on happiness. As self-reported happiness had not increased in the town despite improvements in standards of living, it lends some support to the Easterlin Paradox, that as
countries become richer, their citizens do not necessarily experience enhanced happiness.
The high frequency of personal and family ‘activities’ in 2014 to generate happiness,
provides information for the study of leisure developments. The replication of the Mass
Observation questionnaire in 2014 and its use in other later studies demonstrate that there is
now an additional tool, a template questionnaire for happiness research. The values of
Worktown, ‘contentment and peace of mind’ could contribute to well-being and to
contemporary Positive Psychology material. The research process, the analysis,
publications and contribution to knowledge are discussed within the commentary and in the
conclusions, to justify the award of a doctorate by publication
For whom the bell CHIMEs: A synthesis of remarkable student lives.
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to review the 20 Remarkable Lives student accounts published in this journal. These Recovery Narratives (RNs) are examined first in terms of whether they meet the five elements of the CHIME Model of recovery, and then in terms of what makes each account remarkable.
Two Excel spreadsheets were created. One had each author’s name and the five elements of the CHIME model, the other the features of a remarkable life.
All 20 accounts fulfilled the criteria for the CHIME Model, independently validating this model of recovery. Hence, each account showed evidence of Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment. A number of additional characteristics stood out from the accounts, such as the importance of motherhood and of education.
All 20 accounts were only reviewed by the two authors, who may be subject to bias. To reduce this, the first author did the bulk of the ratings. This paper shows the importance of education for recovery.
Some 15/20 accounts reported problems with mental health services, mainly around waiting lists. Must mental health always remain a Cinderella service?
More value needs to be accorded to education as a means to recovery.
This is the first attempt to synthesise this particular set of recovery narratives, entitled Remarkable Lives. These accounts show the richness of the recovery journeys embarked on by many sufferers, and these are just drawn from one University. Like the authors of these stories, we too as recovery specialists have much to learn from their inspiring accounts
Surface modification of commingled Flax/PP and Flax/PLA fibres by silane or atmospheric argon plasma exposure to improve fibre–matrix adhesion in composites
Get PDFChallenges faced by natural fibre-reinforced composites include poor compatibility between hydrophilic fibres such as flax and hydrophobic polymeric matrices such as polypropylene
(PP) or poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and their inherent flammability. The former promotes weak interfacial adhesion between fibre and matrix, which may be further compromised by the addition of a
flame retardant. This paper investigates the effect that the added flame retardant (FR), guanylurea
methylphosphonate (GUP) and selected surface treatments of commingled flax and either PP or PLA
fabrics have on the fibre/matrix interfacial cohesive forces in derived composites. Surface treatments
included silanisation and atmospheric plasma flame exposure undertaken both individually and
in sequence. 1-, 2- and 8-layered composite laminates were examined for their tensile, peeling and
flexural properties, respectively, all of which yield measures of fibre-matrix cohesion. For FR-treated
Flax/PP composites, maximum improvement was obtained with the combination of silane (using
vinyltriethoxysilane) and plasma (150 W) treatments, with the highest peeling strength and flexural
properties. However, for FR-treated Flax/PLA composites, maximum improvement in both properties occurred following 150 W plasma exposure only. The improvements in physical properties were
matched by increased fibre-matrix adhesion as shown in SEM images of fractured laminates in which
fibre-pull-out had been eliminated
