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An undergraduate internetwork, security-teaching laboratory, which includes both defensive and offensive security laboratory experimentation, is described. This laboratory is oriented toward an introductory internetworking security class and is intended to complement more theoretical network security classes while sparking student interest. The laboratory is unique in that it uses an isolated laboratory network that provides a simple model of the Internet, including an enterprise network component, a university component, a 'good' Internet service provider, and a 'bad' Internet service provider. This setup is in contrast to typical educational laboratories, which use only a few physical computers with virtual machines. All of the laboratory assignments are available on the Internet for general community use and modification (the Internetwork Security Class Home Page is available at http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~owen/). Index Terms--Computer network security, educational technology, laboratories.

We report on an innovative reconfigurable antenna concept with significant practical relevance based on the dynamic definition of metal-like conductive plasma channels in high-resistivity silicon that are activated by the injection of dc current. The plasma channels are precisely formed and addressed using current high-resolution silicon fabrication technology. These dynamically defined plasma-reconfigurable antennas enable frequency hopping, beam shaping, and steering without the complexity of RF feed structures. This concept shows promise for delivering the performance and capabilities of a phased array, but at a reduced cost. However, challenges such as p-i-n biasing circuit complexity and their nonlinearities, as well as antenna efficiency, would still require further investigations. Index Terms--Holographic antennas, plasma antennas, reconfigurable antennas, silicon, SPIN devices.

An undergraduate engineering internetworking learning environment that presents both internetworking principles and laboratory experimentation is described. The learning environment uses the source code availability of the Linux operating system as a case study of the implementation issues and ramifications of internet networking infrastructures. Laboratory use of experimentation with internetworking equipment and software allows interaction with internetworking principles and fundamentals as well as implementation and performance issues. The objectives of this environment include providing a comprehensive mechanism whereby students are exposed to fundamentals and principles that may readily be applied to experimental-based internetwork research and internetwork product development. A follow-on capstone design environment is also briefly described. Index Terms--Capstone design class, design projects, internet infrastructure experimentation, internetworking laboratory, undergraduate networking.

A senior-level design laboratory course is described, in which an optical fiber communication network is expanded or improved by successive generations of students. In this evolutionary approach, student teams base their work on the final written reports of students in previous course offerings. In addition to its primary goal of providing a high-level technical experience, the course requires multidisciplinary teamwork and provides incentive for the development of effective oral and written communication skills. Results of four offerings of the course are presented. Index Terms - Capstone design, fiber optics, interdisciplinary design, optical communications.

This paper describes a new two-quarter undergraduate capstone design class in our computer engineering curriculum. Design groups comprised of students from several different areas of specialization [e.g., software systems, very large scale integration (VLSI) devices and circuits, and computer architecture] design, simulate, implement, and evaluate a complete computing system. Typical examples of projects in the current sequence include a pipelined 32-bit RISC processor, a four-cell systolic array processor, and a video game. The goal is to produce simulation and hardware/software codesign as early as possible in the design process. Students execute software on simulation models prior to any hardware implementation. An assembler and a compiler are developed for the new design. Throughout the sequence, students participate in design reviews and must provide documentation of their designs. The final designs are implemented using an array of field programmable gate arrays (FPGA's) contained in a device called a hardware emulator. This allows for ease of design modifications while still having actual hardware for experimentation. Index Terms - Emulation, FPGA's, hardware/software codesign, rapid prototyping, VHDL.

A major technology barrier to the application of pulse compression techniques in meteorological radar is the presence of range sidelobes which mask and corrupt observations of weak weather phenomena in areas of strong extended meteorological scatterers or point target returns. Techniques for suppressing range sidelobes are well known, but without prior knowledge of the scattering medium's velocity distribution their performance degrades rapidly in the presence of doppler. Recent investigations have presented a 'doppler tolerant' range sidelobe suppression technique. The thrust of the work described herein is the extension of previous simulations to the transmission of dispersed/coded waveform pulses using the ELDORA X-Band weather research radar located at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Foothills Laboratory. This study shows that the use of Barker coded pulses along with pulse compression and doppler tolerant range sidelobe suppression provides: 1) increased sensitivity over a simple pulse of the same peak power, and nominal receive bandwidth by a factor equal to the time-bandwidth product, and 2) accurate spectral moment estimates.

The annual G7 Economic Summits, contrary to the claims of Fred Bergsten, have made progress in protecting and advancing a freer world market despite some unsolved problems. This is manifested by a comparison of the global economy between the pre-war and post-war eras. Some measures that Bergsten proposed regarding action to control global currency fluctuations may soon be realized due to recent improvements in the European economy. Thus, the G7 summits should be supported because of its potential in keeping a global economy together.

Experts in economics elucidate the reasons for the US dollar's failure to strengthen its place against the Yen and major European currencies since 1993. Markets do not always indicate economic fundamentals as shown by the dollar's weakness, and the causes of the weakness are obscure. The Clinton Administration's compliant policy does not guarantee the radical and smooth adjustment of the dollar to its long-run determinants of value. Experts indicate the sharp fall of the dollar against the Deutsche Mark and Yen is due to speculative transactions and high expectations of a strong dollar. The US has to reduce deficits and increase savings to restore the dollar's lost credibility.

Economists state that the policy oriented states of the current world are not different from the world of the 1930s as the demand, increase of interest rates and the policies of the ERM are similar to the gold standard of the yesteryears. Some economists opine that the G7 summit agenda needs to be reviewed to incorporate changes that will ensure fast and better growth. The G7 summit resembles the policies of the 1930s to a very large extent, and if left at it's own pace, would lead to another 'Great Depression.'

A CHILD OF WAR, A PARENT OF PROSPERITY Of great service in its first 50 years, the World Bank Group will render even greater benefits in its next 50 years [...]