Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are considered as a vital component in network security architecture. The system allows the administrator to detect unauthorized use of, or attack upon a computer, network or telecommunication infrastructure. There is no second thought on the necessity of these systems however; their performance remains a critical question. This research has focussed on designing a high performance Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) model. The work begins with the evaluation of Snort, an open source NIDS considered as a de-facto IDS standard. The motive behind the evaluation strategy is to analyze the performance of Snort and ascertain the causes of limited performance. Design and implementation of high performance techniques are considered as the final objective of this research. Snort has been evaluated on highly sophisticated test bench by employing evasive and avoidance strategies to simulate real-life normal and attack-like traffic. The test-methodology is based on the concept of stressing the system and degrading its performance in terms of its packet handling capacity. This has been achieved by normal traffic generation; fussing; traffic saturation; parallel dissimilar attacks; manipulation of background traffic, e.g. fragmentation, packet sequence disturbance and illegal packet insertion. The evaluation phase has lead us to two high performance designs, first distributed hardware architecture using cluster-based adoption and second cascaded phenomena of anomaly-based filtration and signature-based detection. The first high performance mechanism is based on Dynamic Cluster adoption using refined policy routing and Comparator Logic. The design is a two tier mechanism where front end of the cluster is the load-balancer which distributes traffic on pre-defined policy routing ensuring maximum utilization of cluster resources. The traffic load sharing mechanism reduces the packet drop by exchanging state information between load-balancer and cluster nodes and implementing switchovers between nodes in case the traffic exceeds pre-defined threshold limit. Finally, the recovery evaluation concept using Comparator Logic also enhance the overall efficiency by recovering lost data in switchovers, the retrieved data is than analyzed by the recovery NIDS to identify any leftover threats. Intelligent Anomaly Detection Filtration (IADF) using cascaded architecture of anomaly-based filtration and signature-based detection process is the second high performance design. The IADF design is used to preserve resources of NIDS by eliminating large portion of the traffic on well defined logics. In addition, the filtration concept augment the detection process by eliminating the part of malicious traffic which otherwise can go undetected by most of signature-based mechanisms. We have evaluated the mechanism to detect Denial of Service (DoS) and Probe attempts based by analyzing its performance on Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) dataset. The concept has also been supported by time-based normalized sampling mechanisms to incorporate normal traffic variations to reduce false alarms. Finally, we have observed that the IADF has augmented the overall detection process by reducing false alarms, increasing detection rate and incurring lesser data loss. / National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Pakistan

Целью работы является совершенствование методического инструментария оценки и повышения конкурентоспособности вуза. В основе методики расчета интегрального показателя оценки конкурентоспособности высшего учебного заведения отражаются позиции четырех заинтересованных сторон образовательной деятельности: студентов, родителей, преподавателей, работодателей. Предложен алгоритм выбора направлений повышения конкурентоспособности ВУЗа на основе произведенной оценки и отбора мероприятий, наиболее эффективно ее поднимающих, что позволяет более точно оценивать конкурентные позиции ВУЗа, отслеживать динамику их изменения и эффективно корректировать. / The aim of the work is to improve the methodical tools for assessing and increasing the competitiveness of the university. The methodology for calculating the integral indicator for assessing the competitiveness of a higher educational institution reflects the positions of four stakeholders of educational activities: students, parents, teachers, employers. An algorithm for choosing directions to increase the competitiveness of the university based on the assessment and selection of measures that most effectively raise it is proposed, which allows you to more accurately assess the competitive position of the university, track the dynamics of their change and effectively correct.

This study examines the relationship between financial conditions and on-field success among 36 prominent European football clubs from 2010 to 2017. The research employs panel regression analysis to explore how clubs’ financial indicators such as wage costs, increasing revenues, debt-equity ratios, and return on assets correlate with their sporting performance. The findings suggest a substantial association between these financial factors and the clubs’ achievements. In particular, the results emphasize the importance of wage costs and increasingrevenues in boosting a club’s capacity to invest in high-quality players, thereby improving sporting outcomes. The presence of a top globally ranked player also has a significant impacton a club’s performance. These findings carry important policy implications for club management and governing bodies, particularly in revising wage regulations and promoting vigilant financial management for sustainable growth and competitiveness.

No description available.

Целью работы является исследование возможностей повышения конкурентоспособности с использованием маркетинговых инструментов с последующей разработкой методики по повышению конкурентоспособности предприятий малого бизнеса, занимающихся оказанием образовательных услуг в области культуры. Разработанная методика повышения конкурентоспособности позволит малым предприятиям занимающимся оказанием образовательных услуг в области культуры выдержать конкуренцию с использованием доступных маркетинговых инструментов продвижения. / The purpose of the work is to study the possibilities of increasing competitiveness using marketing tools with the development of methods for increasing the competitiveness of public catering enterprises engaged in educational services in the field of culture. The developed methods for increasing competitiveness will allow small businesses to withstand competition with the necessary requirements for educational services in the field of culture using available marketing promotion tools.

Design for modernization of the railway station Brandys nad Orlici. The reconstruction of both the gridiron. The main rails increase the speed to the maximum, in passing tracks increase the speed to 60 km / h The station will eliminate level crossings on the platform. Width arrangement of the platforms will be designed to accommodate persons with reduced mobility options.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Malgorzata J. Rys / This dissertation is the result of studying different methods of increasing guide sign visibility and legibility to drivers during nighttime, to increase safety on roadways. It also studies intersection lighting to indicate the lighting benefits on nighttime crash frequency reduction. From a survey conducted, practices related to overhead guide sign illumination and retroreflectivity in United States were summarized. A laboratory experiment was conducted to compare light distribution of five light sources: Metal Halide, Mercury Vapor, High Pressure Sodium, induction lighting, and Light Emitting Diode (LED). Cost analysis of the five light sources was performed. Combining results of the laboratory experiment and the cost analysis, induction lighting was recommended for states that want to continue external sign illumination. A retroreflectivity experiment was conducted to compare three types of retroreflective sheeting: Engineering Grade (type I), Diamond Grade (type XI), and High Intensity (type IV), to determine the sheeting that best increases visibility and legibility. Diamond Grade (type XI) was found to be the optimal sheeting that increases visibility and legibility to drivers during nighttime. A glare experiment was conducted to expand the retroreflectivity experiment results. Four sheeting-font combinations of High Intensity (type IV) and Diamond Grade (type XI) materials and Series E (Modified) and Clearview fonts were compared. Results revealed an optimal sheeting-font combination of Diamond Grade (type XI) sheeting and Clearview font which increases the visibility and legibility of guide signs to drivers under presence of oncoming glare source. The Highway Safety Information System (HSIS) database was used to study the effect of intersection lighting on the expected crash frequency. Illuminated intersections showed 3.61% and 6.54% decrease in the expected nighttime crash frequency as compared to dark intersections in Minnesota and California, respectively. In addition, partial lighting at intersections decreases the expected nighttime crash frequency by 4.72% compared to continuous lighting in Minnesota. The recommended sheeting-font combination for Departments of Transportation was Diamond Grade (type XI) and Clearview. This combination will increase signs’ visibility and legibility to drivers, and consequently increase safety on roadways. Adding partial lighting at intersections will reduce the expected nighttime crash frequency, and increase safety on roadways.

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are considered as a vital component in network security architecture. The system allows the administrator to detect unauthorized use of, or attack upon a computer, network or telecommunication infrastructure. There is no second thought on the necessity of these systems however; their performance remains a critical question. This research has focussed on designing a high performance Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) model. The work begins with the evaluation of Snort, an open source NIDS considered as a de-facto IDS standard. The motive behind the evaluation strategy is to analyze the performance of Snort and ascertain the causes of limited performance. Design and implementation of high performance techniques are considered as the final objective of this research. Snort has been evaluated on highly sophisticated test bench by employing evasive and avoidance strategies to simulate real-life normal and attack-like traffic. The test-methodology is based on the concept of stressing the system and degrading its performance in terms of its packet handling capacity. This has been achieved by normal traffic generation; fussing; traffic saturation; parallel dissimilar attacks; manipulation of background traffic, e.g. fragmentation, packet sequence disturbance and illegal packet insertion. The evaluation phase has lead us to two high performance designs, first distributed hardware architecture using cluster-based adoption and second cascaded phenomena of anomaly-based filtration and signature-based detection. The first high performance mechanism is based on Dynamic Cluster adoption using refined policy routing and Comparator Logic. The design is a two tier mechanism where front end of the cluster is the load-balancer which distributes traffic on pre-defined policy routing ensuring maximum utilization of cluster resources. The traffic load sharing mechanism reduces the packet drop by exchanging state information between load-balancer and cluster nodes and implementing switchovers between nodes in case the traffic exceeds pre-defined threshold limit. Finally, the recovery evaluation concept using Comparator Logic also enhance the overall efficiency by recovering lost data in switchovers, the retrieved data is than analyzed by the recovery NIDS to identify any leftover threats. Intelligent Anomaly Detection Filtration (IADF) using cascaded architecture of anomaly-based filtration and signature-based detection process is the second high performance design. The IADF design is used to preserve resources of NIDS by eliminating large portion of the traffic on well defined logics. In addition, the filtration concept augment the detection process by eliminating the part of malicious traffic which otherwise can go undetected by most of signature-based mechanisms. We have evaluated the mechanism to detect Denial of Service (DoS) and Probe attempts based by analyzing its performance on Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) dataset. The concept has also been supported by time-based normalized sampling mechanisms to incorporate normal traffic variations to reduce false alarms. Finally, we have observed that the IADF has augmented the overall detection process by reducing false alarms, increasing detection rate and incurring lesser data loss.

Föreliggande studie har genom nio semi-strukturerade kvalitativa intervjuer undersökt utredares, förundersökningsledares samt åklagares upplevelser och erfarenheter inom Polismyndighetens utredningsarbete, vad gäller sexuellt digitalt våld mot barn (under 18 år). Detta för att eventuellt kunna identifiera möjliga utvecklingsområden inom utredningsarbetet vad gäller att skicka oönskade nakenbilder samt att otillåtet sprida nakenbilder på någon annan. Detta då uppklaringsandelen i relation till antalet anmälningar vad gäller dessa brott kan anses vara låg. Således blev praktikers upplevelser och erfarenheter av arbetsprocessen samt om och i sådana fall hur de påverkas av att arbeta med sexuellt digitalt våld centralt. Resultatet påvisar att praktikerna lyfter flera aspekter av sitt arbete såsom bra ledarskap, utformningen av arbetsgrupper samt snabba samarbeten som välfungerande moment i utredningsarbetet. Flera utvecklingsområden framkom även där det bland annat efterfrågas klarare riktlinjer, samt mer metodstöd, kunskap och utbildning inom området för att öka effektiviteten i arbetet. Exponeringen i deltagarnas arbete med sexuellt digitalt våld mot barn, tillsammans med den stress praktikerna upplever utifrån deras arbetsbelastning, erfars bidrar till en negativ påverkan och minskad arbetskapacitet. Dock belyses att stöd och hjälp finns att tillgå som motverkar den negativa påverkan. Studiens resultat diskuteras utifrån tidigare forskning inom området samt i relation till organisationsteori. / The present study has, through nine qualitative semi-structured interviews, examined investigators’, requisitors’ and prosecutors’ experiences of the police authority's investigative work regarding sexual digital violence against children (under age 18). The study aimed to identify areas of development within the investigative work regarding receiving unwanted nude images and unauthorized spreading of nude pictures of others. This because of the low crime clearance rate of reported crimes. Thus practitioners’ experience of their work process, including if and how they were affected by working with sexual digital violence, were essential. The results from the interviews highlighted several aspects of the work such as good leadership, team design, and rapid collaborations as well-functioning components. Several areas of development also emerged such as clearer guidelines, increased methodological support, increased level of knowledge, and education, to increase the work efficiency. The exposure to sexual content in the participants' work combined with the stress derived from their workload was experienced to contribute to a negative impact and reduced work capacity. However, it was highlighted that support and help was available to lessen the negative impact. The study's results were discussed based on previous research in the field and in relation to organizational theory.

O ensaio SPT (Standard Penetration Test), é o ensaio de campo geotécnico mais usado no Brasil e grande parte do mundo. A ampla utilização deste ensaio no âmbito da engenharia geotécnica deve-se à sua simplicidade, baixo custo, grande experiência prática e facilidade de aplicação dos seus resultados. Os principais objetivos do ensaio são a determinação do índice de resistência do solo (NSPT) e amostragem. Apesar de ser muito utilizado na estimativa da capacidade de carga de fundações, o ensaio SPT tem sido questionado pelo fato de que o índice NSPT é utilizado em correlações empíricas baseadas em observações práticas, sem nenhum fundamento científico. Além do mais, seus resultados apresentam significativas dispersões. Para analisar racionalmente os resultados do ensaio e de possibilitar a comparação dos diferentes resultados de distintas equipes, é necessário conhecer as quantidades de energia envolvidas na penetração do amostrador no solo. Tais análises requerem o conhecimento da eficiência do equipamento (η) e a força de reação dinâmica do solo à cravação do amostrador (RD). Neste cenário, o presente trabalho aborda a interpretação racional dos resultados de ensaios SPT a partir de simulações numéricas realizadas com o software Abaqus/Explicit®. Esse programa fornece os deslocamentos do amostrador (Δρ), força de reação dinâmica do solo (RD), e as forças de reação nas paredes laterais externa e interna do amostrador (R1 e R2). Baseando-se nos resultados dos modelos numéricos, foi possível calcular a eficiência do equipamento, a partir da força de reação dinâmica do solo, as resistências unitárias de atrito atuantes nas paredes e a resistência unitária na ponta do amostrador. Também foi possível determinar a relação entre as resistências unitárias de atrito desenvolvidas no interior e exterior do amostrador (fator de atrito a). Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com resultados de trabalhos experimentais e valores teóricos determinados com base no Princípio de Hamilton da conservação da energia. Também foi possível simular uma prova de carga dinâmica com energia crescente no amostrador, variando a altura de queda do martelo. Isso confirmou que a resistência mobilizada do solo para certa energia aplicada pode estar bem abaixo da ruptura e apenas representar um ponto na curva de resistência mobilizada versus deslocamento. / The Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is one of the most used geotechnical tests in the world. The wide use of this test in the context of geotechnical engineering is due to its simplicity, low cost, large practical experience and its ease of application of results. The main objectives of the test are the determination of soil resistance index (NSPT) and sampling. Despite being widely used in estimating the bearing capacity of foundations, the SPT test has been questioned by the fact that the NSPT index is used in empirical correlations based on practical observations, with no scientific basis. Furthermore, its results show significant dispersions. To analyze rationally the test results and to make possible to compare different results obtained from different equipment, it is necessary to know the amounts of energy existing during the penetration of the sampler into soil. Such analyses require information about the equipment efficiency (η) and the dynamic soil reaction force during the sampler penetration (RD). In this scenario, this work addresses the rational interpretation of SPT test results from numerical simulations performed with the Abaqus/Explicit software. This program provides the sampler displacements (Δρ), the dynamic soil reaction force (RD) and the external and internal reaction forces acting on the sampler walls (R1 e R2). Based on the results of the numerical models, it was possible to calculate the efficiency of the equipment, from the dynamic soil reaction force, the unit friction resistance acting on the sampler walls and the unit resistance at the sampler tip. In addition, it was possible to estimate the relationship between the unit friction resistance acting on the internal and external walls of the sampler (friction factor a). The numerical results were compared with experimental results and theoretical values, obtained using the Hamilton\'s principle of conservation of energy. Furthermore, it was possible to simulate a dynamic load test with increasing energy applied to the sampler, by varying the height of fall of the hammer. It was obtained the confirmation that resistance mobilized for a certain level of energy applied to the sampler may be below the failure load and represent only a point on the graph curve mobilized resistance versus displacement.