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Wireless Authentication Protocols

by Kumar Mangipudi

ECE Dept.,
NDSU

Abstract

Aydos, Savas and Ko proposed a wireless authentication and key agreement protocol (ASK-WAP) based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). We find that this protocol is vulnerable to a man-in-the-middle attack, a denial-of-service attack and an impersonation attack. In this presentation, we show the above mentioned attacks on the ASK-WAP. We also propose a variant of ASK-WAP, the User Authentication Protocol (UAP), that resists these attacks. Furthermore, we analyze the security and performance of the proposed UAP. The results show that our proposed UAP is much more secure and is also efficient with fewer message exchanges and less computation.

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University/Industrial Relations: An Industrialist's Personal Perspective

by Dr. Noel Anderson

ECE Dept.,
Phoenix International

Abstract

Dr. Noel Anderson has been an NDSU faculty member and has held research leadership positions with a local small business and two Fortune 500 companies. He will present some background on intellectual property law and technology readiness levels. He will then share personal perspectives on university/industrial collaboration opportunities as constrained by US law.

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Design of an Ambulatory Brain-Computer Interface (ABCI) System

by Richard Wiens

ECE Dept.,
NDSU

Abstract

Brain-computer interface (BCI) systems are studied to ultimately help disabled individuals gain control of a device using only thought. In an attempt to achieve better and faster results, an ambulatory BCI (ABCI) system is being developed to allow users to train remotely and continuously on a more subconscious level. Current and potential obstacles in the development of the ABCI will be presented in addition to a general overview of BCI technology.

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Instant University for Dummies:
the Consumer Fraud in Higher Education

by Hans Egil Offerdal

Communications,
Central Missouri State University

Abstract

How many weeks would Aristotle survive as a faculty member at a manager-controlled university of the 21st century? When he would meet students with a question instead of a textbook answer to their doubts, would they be confused and complain about him to the administrators? When he would refuse, on principle, to administer a true-false exam, would he be seen as a "nut case"?

This talk focuses on one of the most expensive baby-sitting operations in our times, namely the university. Defending the idea of a university as a place where the only objective is to seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge, this presentation will deal with the betrayal by the university of generations of young people and their future.

The speaker will raise critical questions about today's university and the, so-called, education provided there. Then, he will provide some suggestions for allowing the university do what it is best at: to be a university.

Offerdal received his education in humanities and social sciences, from the University of Bergen, Norway, and at Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA) in El Salvador. His research interests cover the area of ethics, human rights, moral theology, church history as well as international reporting and media literacy.

Hans Egil Offerdal is a tenured researcher in Communication and in Theology, in the Department of Communication, ITESM-CEM, since August 2002. He is the former co-ordinator and special adviser of the UNESCO/ISSC-based Comparative Research Programme on Poverty (CROP) 1996-2001. From 1999-2002 he was an invited Visiting Professor in the Department of Communication, ITESM-CEM. He also has broad professional experience from the Church of Norway, as well as a consultant to Redd Barna (Save the Children) of Norway.

He has published articles about Mons. Romero, liberation theology, human rights, pope John Paul II and the church in Latin America as well as on the "war on terrorism". In 2000 he was invited by the International Development Ethics Association (IDEA) to give a critique of the Human Development Report. His writings have appeared in various international publications (U.S.A., Belgium, Norway, France and Mexico), and his perspectives has been cited in books and international reports and have also appeared in media outlets in Jordan, Mexico, the U.S. and El Salvador.

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The Interaction of the Heart and Arterial System
Impact of Aging

by Dr. Larry Mulligan ,
Senior Principal Scientist,
Leads Related Physiologic Research,
Therapy Delivery,
Cardiac Rhythm Management

Medtronic, Inc

Abstract

The delivery of blood into the periphery is the result of the coupling of the heart and arterial system. Impaired ventricular performance, due to age, heart failure or coronary artery disease may lead to a decrease in stroke volume. Likewise, a decrease in compliance in the arterial system, due to aging, long-term hypertension or arteriosclerosis may limit the normal discharge of blood from the ventricle, resulting in impaired perfusion of the systemic organs. A brief overview of the basics of ventricular/vascular coupling will be followed with examples of how impaired ventricular or vascular function result in suboptimal coupling.

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An Overview of the Hybrid Quasi-static/Fullwave Method

by Ben 13 August, 2008 12:18 PM http://www.ece.ndsu.nodak.edu/">ECE Dept.,
NDSU

Abstract

Computational tools have been used for several years to estimate EM effects on electronic systems. Computer codes based on the moment method (MOM) are commonly used in scattering problems. One of the difficulties is to solve problems that have a combination of "electrically large" and "electrically small" regions - especially if the "electrically small" region contains dielectric materials. Manned and unmanned air vehicles and weapon combinations are examples of complex geometrical shapes with both "electrically large" and "electrically small" regions - often with dielectric regions.

A MOM was developed by Dr. Robert Olsen at Washington State University to simulate some of these "electrically small" geometrically complex regions with capacitively dominant characteristics (i.e., dipole with capacitive load).

This talk focuses on work currently being done to extend the ability of Dr. Olsen's code to include "electrically small" regions with inductive effects (i.e. dielectrics with permeability).

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Teaching Ethics across the Engineering Curriculum*

by Dr. David A. Rogers

ECE Dept.
NDSU

Abstract

The very nature of engineering implies a commitment to ethics. Ethics education can occur in a wide variety of engineering courses. Beginning with first-year courses and continuing through the curriculum, students are taught to sort through the facts and constraints of engineering projects and search for solutions that best serve the user. Many students experience a philosophical, historical, and professional approach to the general topic of engineering ethics and social responsibility by taking a formal course in engineering ethics. Professional ethics can be integrated into course or capstone projects. In graduate courses, students receive explicit instruction in research ethics. The graduate who has been through a variety of ethics education experiences will be in a better position to leave the university and accept the very serious demands of the vocation.

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* This presentation is based on a paper by Dr. Rogers and Dr. Paulo F. Ribeiro recently presented at the 2004 ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference in Savannah, Georgia.

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The Sussman, Moyal, and Janssen Formulas are Fourier Transform Consequences of a More Fundamental Identity

by Dr. David Farden

ECE Dept.
NDSU

Abstract

The Sussman, Moyal, and Janssen formulas have respective applications of radar ambiguity functions, time-frequency analysis, and Gabor frame operators. All three identities are easily derived from a more fundamental convolution identity. Some background material will be presented in the form of four-corners diagrams for two-dimensional Fourier transform relationships. Four corners diagrams based on the Rihaczek and the Wigner time-frequency distributions will be presented. Each corner in the four-corners diagram is one Fourier transform away from adjacent cornes, and two Fourier transforms away from the opposite corner. These four-corners diagrams can provide key insights into rather obscure, disparate concepts.

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Monte Carlo Methods to Compute Penalties in Optical Fiber Transmission Systems

by Aurenice O. Lima

Dept. of Computer Science & Electrical Engineering
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Abstract

Polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) is a major source of impairments in optical fiber communication systems. Since PMD is a random process, Monte Carlo simulations are often used to compute PMD-related probability distribution functions (pdfs). However, the large PMD penalties of interest to system designers cannot be efficiently computed using standard Monte Carlo simulations, since they are very rare. Consequently, extended Monte Carlo methods such as importance sampling and the multicanonical Monte Carlo (MMC) have recently been applied to compute these penalties.

In this talk, we will briefly discuss about Monte Carlo methods and their application to compute PMD-induced penalties in optical fiber transmission systems.

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Power System Protection

by John Wahlgren

Manager, System Engineering
Otter Tail Power Company

Abstract

A power system is exposed to faults created by natural calamity, and equipment or operator failures. Such faults are unavoidable in power system operations. Once a fault occurs in a power system, it is necessary to isolate the faulted components from the rest of the network as soon as possible in order to minimize the system outages.

Although there are variations in power system protection mechanisms throughout the world, the protection schemes have to detect faults and disconnect only faulted components from the network by opening the circuit breakers. Each protective device protects one component, but may also act as a backup for the nearby protective devices.

In this talk, Mr. Wahlgren will present the current industry practice in system protection design, and his professional experience and knowledge of the topic.

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Genetic Algorithm-based Digital IIR Filter Design

by Michael J. Schmitz

ECE Dept.,
NDSU

Abstract

A method for designing a digital IIR filter with arbitrary magnitude response using a modified genetic algorithm (GA) is presented. A GA that operates on a complex continuous search space is constructed and optimized by statistically determining the abilities of commonly used genetic operators. Furthermore, a new genetic operator is presented that combines crossover and adaptive mutation to improve the convergence rate and solution quality of the GA.

A customized application layer, called the Filter Design Algorithm (FDA), has been developed for the optimized GA to handle the specific format and properties of the filter design problem. These requirements include a method for mapping a filter into the GA, evaluating the fitness of a filter, creating an initial population of filters, and ensuring that all filters are realizable.