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Simulation of transaction malleability attack for blockchain-based e-voting
Get PDFBlockchain has been adopted to address significant challenges, such as trust in diverse domains, including voting, logistics and finance. However, transaction malleability has been identified as a threat for blockchain, which can potentially lead to an inconsistent state that can result in further attacks such as double-spending. In this context, this paper is focused on investigating the feasibility of transaction malleability within a typical blockchain application aiming to identify scenarios that may lead to a successful transaction malleability attack. Our objective in doing so is to highlight conditions which cause such attack to facilitate the development of protection mechanisms for them. Specifically, this paper presents a successful simulation of transaction malleability attack within the context of blockchain-based electronic voting. The evaluation has identified the impact of parameters, such as network delay and block generation rate in achieving a successful transaction malleability attack, which highlights future directions of research
Iterative atmospheric phase screen compensation for near-real-time ground-based InSAR measurements over a mountainous slope
Get PDFIn this article, an atmospheric phase screen (APS) compensation algorithm for a near real-time ground-based interferometry synthetic aperture radar (GB-InSAR) over a mountainous area is investigated. A novel APS compensation scheme is proposed to compensate the fluctuated APS caused by a spatial 3-D inhomogeneous refractivity index distribution without any a priori knowledge of moving location. The proposed method simultaneously addresses to identify moving pixels by a criterion of absolute velocity estimated by the coherent pixels technique (CPT). The proposed method consists mainly of three steps: 1) the stratified APS compensation; 2) identification of moving pixel candidate; and 3) the residual APS [remained APS after 1)] compensation by Kriging interpolation. The steps mentioned above are iteratively applied in order to increase the accuracy of the whole process. In this framework, we develop the 2-D quadratic polynomial model of the refractivity index with respect to slant range and topographic height for modeling the stratified APS. Furthermore, a prediction of the residual APS is achieved by applying the intrinsic random function of order k (IRF-k) Kriging interpolation, taking into account the nonstationarity of the residual APS. We evaluate the proposed method using zero-baseline GB-differential InSAR (GB-DInSAR) data over a mountainous area located in Minami-Aso, Kumamoto, Japan, through the near real-time post-landslide measurement campaign
Understanding policies intended to guide graduate research supervision: institutional remit versus personal supervisory practice
No full textPolicies intended to guide supervisory practices in developing countries are usually generic adaptations of Western rhetoric, neither conceptually nor contextually designed to facilitate developing world realities. Here we discuss policies aimed at supporting the practice of graduate supervision in the developing world and highlight how these documents, for socio-historical reasons, tend towards brevity; focus on procedure; limit the human factor, and leave gaps where individuals are left to interpret things in their own way. Our goal is to contribute to graduate supervision scholarship by offering an insightful description to aid supervisors’ understanding of the development and utility of such documents. This insight is presented as a way of improving, or in the case of new research supervisors, informing supervisory practice
Insights into the binding mechanism of polyphenols and fish myofibrillar proteins explored using multi-spectroscopic methods
Get PDFAs the most abundant protein existing in fish, myofibrillar protein (MP) is likely to hydrolyze which affects the quality of fish during preservation. Polyphenols, which are some of the most popular antioxidants and antimicrobials, have been widely used in freshwater fish preservation and storage to prevent protein degradation. However, their binding behavior and mechanism is still unclear. In this study, the binding mechanisms of two types of polyphenols (Chlorogenic acid: CGA; Quercetin: QUE) and MP extracted from grass carp were investigated through multi-spectroscopic methods. Different spectroscopic methods (fluorescence spectroscopy and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy) were used to explore the interaction modes between polyphenols and fish extracted MP. In addition, circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to detect microstructure changes of MP under different preservation approaches. Results showed that nanocomposites were generated when MP interacted with either CGA or QUE. The addition of CGA did not affect the α-helix content of MP, whereas QUE diffused the β-turns of myofibrillar proteins and promoted the formation of α-helices. At the same time, the fluorescence quenching effect of CGA/QUE on MP was static quenching, and the binding constants, number of binding sites and corresponding thermodynamic parameters of MP were calculated. It was concluded that the binding of CGA to MP depends on Van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds, while QUE binds to MPs on the basis of electrostatic interactions. In addition, the fluorescence quenching of MPs with CGA is related to tryptophan and tyrosine residues, while the fluorescence quenching effect of QUE on MPs is related only to tryptophan residues
A COMMITMENT UNDER CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES: ANALYSING EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT DURING THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 IN THE UK
No full textCoronavirus (COVID-19) has changed the world’s economies and
brought more anxiety and uncertainty in Employment Relations. In
response to the outbreak, governments have directed people to work
from home if they can; thus, minimum social interaction to reduce the
spread of the virus. However, some people could not work from home
because of the nature of their job. This study aimed to investigate
Employee Commitment (EC) during the COVID-19 outbreak in the
UK. Potential participants were invited through social media, and three
individuals were selected at random to take part in a video interview
via zoom technology. The data was processed into 3 case studies before
analysing. The results indicated that employees are currently being
pushed to work because they need to pay their household bills.
Therefore the employees are displaying continuance commitment
because of perceived costs or fear to be in debt if they leave the job.
The COVID-19 outbreak has brought emotional challenges among the
working population; employees who can work are only doing so to
support their families financially. Despite a small sample, this study
concludes that employees lose their love of job when they are faced
with high risks, such as COVID-19 virus. Also, employees during an
emergency, such as coronavirus pandemic do not see going to work as
an obligation. Therefore EC remains a volatile concept that can be
affected by circumstances
How does vintage equipment fit into a modern working process?
Get PDFContemporary students of record production, interested in the development of studio practice and seeking to discover historic techniques will find narratives that not only mythologise the works of producers such as Spector or Martin but cast historic pieces of equipment such as Pultec EQs and Fairchild limiters as mythical figures, venerated for their role in defining the sound of popular music.
This chapter considers the continued use and veneration of analogue equipment, who's design first appeared over sixty years ago. As old designs are reissued by various companies copying original electrical circuits and using valves, and digital emulations are marketed as ‘tone titans’, deifying the original concepts, the question is how does this equipment fit into a modern working process and why does it survive
Audition songs for men
No full textIn this volume of the Good Audition Guides, you'll find a wide range of fantastic audition songs for men, each accompanied by a thorough introduction including the vital information you need to perform the song to its maximum effect
Cost–benefit analysis of surveillance for surgical site infection following caesarean section
Get PDFObjective To estimate the economic burden to the health service of surgical site infection following caesarean section and to identify potential savings achievable through implementation of a surveillance programme.
Design Economic model to evaluate the costs and benefits of surveillance from community and hospital healthcare providers’ perspective.
Setting England.
Participants Women undergoing caesarean section in National Health Service
hospitals.
Main outcome measure Costs attributable to treatment and management of surgical site infection following caesarean section.
Results The costs (2010) for a hospital carrying out 800 caesarean sections a year based on infection risk of 9.6% were estimated at £18,914 (95% CI 11,521 to 29,499) with 28% accounted for by community care (£5,370). With inflation to 2019 prices, this equates to an estimated cost of £5.0m for all caesarean sections performed annually in England 2018-19, approximately £1,866 and £93 per infection managed in hospital and community respectively. The cost of surveillance for a hospital for one calendar quarter was estimated as £3,747 (2010 costs).
Modelling a decrease in risk of infection of 30, 20 or 10% between successive surveillance periods indicated that a variable intermittent surveillance strategy achieved higher or similar net savings than continuous surveillance. Breakeven was reached sooner with the variable surveillance strategy than continuous surveillance
when the baseline risk of infection was 10 or 15% and smaller loses with a baseline risk of 5%.
Conclusion Surveillance of surgical site infections after caesarean section with feedback of data to surgical teams offers a potentially effective means to reduce infection risk, improve patient experience and save money for the health service.
Strengths and limitations
• The model estimated both community (28%) and hospital costs (72%), providing a more representative estimate of overall economic burden to the health service.
• Time-matching of patients with and without infection according to length of post-operative stay provided a more accurate assessment of excess bed-days attributable to surgical site infection (2.6 days) than average excess length of stay (median difference 5 days) comparison by disentangling the impact of prolonged length of stay on increased chance of detecting an infection.
• Through capture and assessment of the costs and impact of surveillance, our model demonstrated the potential for savings through reductions in incidence of surgical site infections.
• Costs were obtained from NHS National Schedule Reference Costs and other sources rather than observed expenditure and assumptions made about the number of extra midwife and general practitioner appointments resulting from infection.
• The study was based on healthcare utilisation and did not assess direct and indirect costs borne by the patients or their carers
The evaluation of the impact of innovation management capability to organisational performance
Get PDFPurpose – Taking into consideration today’s business climate of short product life cycles, corporate goals must focus on innovation by the changing needs of consumers. Thus, the main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of innovation management capability (IMC) on organisational performance. Based on resource-advantage theory, this study analyses to what extent intellectual and emotional assets influence marketing management capability which loads to organisation’s performance
Design/methodology/approach - To understand research objectives, data was collected via 35 in-depth interviews with managers and academics from various multi-national companies and new empirical insights were offered.
Findings - By focussing on a holistic approach, the research recognised the existing links among concepts of intellectual and emotional assets (digital technology, knowledge and competence, reputation), personality, IMC, types of innovation and specific business performance. Thus, findings reach a broader view of the role played by innovation in the current scenario, by investigating whether the IMC is related to other constructs in the eyes of managers and academics from various multi-national companies.
Research limitations/implications – The focus on SMEs limits the generalisation of this study. To scrutinise the relations documented in this study, future research should collect in other country settings and different sector. The study contributes to the sustainability literature by developing a conceptual model that explains the development and role of innovation management in a market context with its associated sustainability management outcomes. Results are relevant for both SMEs and policymakers. Clear need to investigate further how organisations can benefit from such capabilities for greater growth is identified.
Originality/value – The paper has the merit to develop a comprehensive understanding of personality, intellectual and emotional assets on IMC and performance
Design of an attention-grabbing destination slogan using the attenuation model
Get PDFThe ability of a slogan to attract attention is highly correlated with the quality of destination branding. The research field of destination slogans does not recognize this and has not focused on the attention factor. In this study, we developed and applied a framework of design guidelines for destination slogans using the attenuation model in cognitive psychology. A framework encompassing 10 slogan rules was developed according to the common attention tendency of human beings. The framework’s functions in enhancing the slogan noticeability and bridging the projected—perceived slogan gap were confirmed by evaluating Chinese destination slogans. This study is the first of its kind to systematically address the problem of attention-grabbing of slogans and to provide managerial guidance for designing attention-grabbing slogans