LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
GMAD: Graph-based Malware Activity Detection by DNS traffic analysis

Malicious activities on the Internet are one of the most dangerous threats to Internet users and organizations. Malicious software controlled remotely is addressed as one of the most critical methods for executing the malicious activities. Since blocking domain names for command and control (C&C) of the malwares by analyzing their Domain Name System (DNS) activities has been the most effective and practical countermeasure, attackers attempt to hide their malwares by adopting several evasion techniques, such as client sub-grouping and domain flux on DNS activities. A common feature of the recently developed evasion techniques is the utilization of multiple domain names for render malware DNS activities temporally and spatially more complex. In contrast to analyzing the DNS activities for a single domain name, detecting the malicious DNS activities for multiple domain names is not a simple task. The DNS activities of malware that uses multiple domain names, termed multi-domain malware, are sparser and less synchronized with respect to space and time. In this paper, we introduce a malware activity detection mechanism, GMAD: Graph-based Malware Activity Detection that utilizes a sequence of DNS queries in order to achieve robustness against evasion techniques. GMAD uses a graph termed Domain Name Travel Graph which expresses DNS query sequences to detect infected clients and malicious domain names. In addition to detecting malware C&C domain names, GMAD detects malicious DNS activities such as blacklist checking and fake DNS querying. To detect malicious domain names utilized to malware activities, GMAD applies domain name clustering using the graph structure and determines malicious clusters by referring to public blacklists. Through experiments with four sets of DNS traffic captured in two ISP networks in the U.S. and South Korea, we show that GMAD detected thousands of malicious domain names that had neither been blacklisted nor detected through group activity of DNS clients. In a detection accuracy evaluation, GMAD showed an accuracy rate higher than 99% on average, with a higher than 90% precision and lower than 0:5% false positive rate. It is shown that the proposed method is effective for detecting multi-domain malware activities irrespective of evasion techniques. 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The SLMTA programme: Transforming the laboratory landscape in developing countries.

BACKGROUND
Efficient and reliable laboratory services are essential to effective and well-functioning health systems. Laboratory managers play a critical role in ensuring the quality and timeliness of these services. However, few laboratory management programmes focus on the competencies required for the daily operations of a laboratory in resource-limited settings. This report provides a detailed description of an innovative laboratory management training tool called Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) and highlights some challenges, achievements and lessons learned during the first five years of implementation (2009-2013) in developing countries.


PROGRAMME
SLMTA is a competency-based programme that uses a series of short courses and work-based learning projects to effect immediate and measurable laboratory improvement, while empowering laboratory managers to implement practical quality management systems to ensure better patient care. A SLMTA training programme spans from 12 to 18 months; after each workshop, participants implement improvement projects supported by regular supervisory visits or on-site mentoring. In order to assess strengths, weaknesses and progress made by the laboratory, audits are conducted using the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) checklist, which is based on International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15189 requirements. These internal audits are conducted at the beginning and end of the SLMTA training programme.


CONCLUSION
Within five years, SLMTA had been implemented in 617 laboratories in 47 countries, transforming the laboratory landscape in developing countries. To our knowledge, SLMTA is the first programme that makes an explicit connection between the performance of specific management behaviours and routines and ISO 15189 requirements. Because of this close relationship, SLMTA is uniquely positioned to help laboratories seek accreditation to ISO 15189.
Rule-Based Modelling of Cellular Signalling

Modelling is becoming a necessity in studying biological signalling pathways, because the combinatorial complexity of such systems rapidly overwhelms intuitive and qualitative forms of reasoning. Yet, this same combinatorial explosion makes the traditional modelling paradigm based on systems of differential equations impractical. In contrast, agentbased or concurrent languages, such as κ [1,2,3] or the closely related BioNetGen language [4,5,6,7,8,9,10], describe biological interactions in terms of rules, thereby avoiding the combinatorial explosion besetting differential equations. Rules are expressed in an intuitive graphical form that transparently represents biological knowledge. In this way, rules become a natural unit of model building, modification, and discussion. We illustrate this with a sizeable example obtained from refactoring two models of EGF receptor signalling that are based on differential equations [11,12]. An exciting aspect of the agent-based approach is that it naturally lends itself to the identification and analysis of the causal structures that deeply shape the dynamical, and perhaps even evolutionary, characteristics of complex distributed biological systems. In particular, one can adapt the notions of causality and conflict, familiar from concurrency theory, to κ, our representation language of choice. Using the EGF receptor model as an example, we show how causality enables the formalization of the colloquial concept of pathway and, perhaps more surprisingly, how conflict can be used to dissect the signalling dynamics to obtain a qualitative handle on the range of system behaviours. By taming the combinatorial explosion, and exposing the causal structures and key kinetic junctures in a model, agentand rule-based representations hold promise for making modelling more powerful, more perspicuous, and of appeal to a wider audience.
Survey on Cloud Computing Security

Cloud computing may be defined as management and provision of resources, software, applications and information as services over the cloud (internet) on demand. Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction [1]. With its ability to provide users dynamically scalable, shared resources over the Internet and avoid large upfront fixed costs, cloud computing has recently emerged as a promising hosting platform that performs an intelligent usage of a collection of services, applications, information and infrastructure comprised of pools of computer, network, information and storage resources. However along with these advantages, storing a large amount of data including critical information on the cloud motivates highly skilled hackers thus creating a need for the security to be considered as one of the top issues while considering Cloud Computing. In this paper we explain the cloud computing along with its open secure architecture advantages in brief and emphasize on various security threats in cloud computing also the existing methods to control them along with their pros and cons.
Occlusal overload and bone/implant loss.

AIM
The aim of this search was to assess the biological consequences that overload might have on already osseointegrated oral implants through a systematic screening of the scientific literature.


METHOD
Detailed searches through PUBMED, OVID, EMBASE and LILACS databases were made. Articles published up to December 2011 and those reported on the clinical, radiographic and/or histological outcome of oral implants subjected to so-called overload were considered eligible for inclusion. Identified studies were assessed by one non-blinded reviewer according to well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. When doubt arose, the co-authors were counselled until final agreement was obtained. The PICO questions formulated was:"what is the effect of overload vs. no overload on bone/implant loss in clinically stable implants?"


RESULTS
The database searches as well as additional hand searching, resulted in 726 potentially relevant titles. Eventually, 16 clinical and 25 animal studies were considered relevant to the topic. After inclusion/exclusion criteria assessment, all clinical studies and all but three animal studies and one systematic review were considered at high risk of bias and excluded. The included animal studies did not reveal an association between overload and peri-implant bone loss in the absence of peri-implant inflammation, whereas in its presence, overload seemed to aggravate the peri-implant tissue breakdown.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of implant overload on bone/implant loss in clinically well-integrated implants is poorly reported and provides little unbiased evidence to support a cause-and-effect relationship. The PICO question remained unanswered. At the animal level, "overload", mimicked by supra-occlusal contacts acting in an uninflamed peri-implant environment, did not negatively affect osseointegration and even was anabolic. In contrast, supra-occlusal contacts in the presence of inflammation significantly increased the plaque-induced bone resorption.
The Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ): development and validation of a new sensory questionnaire for adults with and without autism

BACKGROUND
Questionnaire-based studies suggest atypical sensory perception in over 90% of individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). Sensory questionnaire-based studies in ASC mainly record parental reports of their child's sensory experience; less is known about sensory reactivity in adults with ASC. Given the DSM-5 criteria for ASC now include sensory reactivity, there is a need for an adult questionnaire investigating basic sensory functioning. We aimed to develop and validate the Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ), which assesses basic sensory hyper- and hyposensitivity across all five modalities.


METHODS
A total of 359 adults with (n = 196) and without (n = 163) ASC were asked to fill in the SPQ, the Sensory Over-Responsivity Inventory (SensOR) and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) online.


RESULTS
Adults with ASC reported more sensory hypersensitivity on the SPQ compared to controls (P < .001). SPQ scores were correlated with AQ scores both across groups (r = .-38) and within the ASC (r = -.18) and control groups (r = -.15). Principal component analyses conducted separately in both groups indicated that one factor comprising 35 items consistently assesses sensory hypersensitivity. The SPQ showed high internal consistency for both the total SPQ (Cronbach's alpha = .92) and the reduced 35-item version (alpha = .93). The SPQ was significantly correlated with the SensOR across groups (r = -.46) and within the ASC (r = -.49) and control group (r = -.21).


CONCLUSIONS
The SPQ shows good internal consistency and concurrent validity and differentiates between adults with and without ASC. Adults with ASC report more sensitivity to sensory stimuli on the SPQ. Finally, greater sensory sensitivity is associated with more autistic traits. The SPQ provides a new tool to measure individual differences on this dimension.
Optimal Succinctness for Range Minimum Queries

For a static array A of n totally ordered objects, a range minimum query asks for the position of the minimum between two specified array indices. We show how to preprocess A into a scheme of size 2n + o(n) bits that allows to answer range minimum queries on A in constant time. This space is asymptotically optimal in the important setting where access to A is not permitted after the preprocessing step. Our scheme can be computed in linear time, using only n + o(n) additional bits for construction. We also improve on LCA-computation in BPSor DFUDS-encoded trees.
Field Engineering as a Profession

This paper spotlights Field Engineering as both capable and deserving of professional status. Professional and technical qualifications of its personnel must be of a high caliber. Personal conduct and managerial attitudes must be sufficient, to satisfy the customer's demands. Such attributes are the hallmark of those engaged in the Field Engineering Profession. Numerous IEEE members are directly involved and/or closely associated with Field Engineering.
Analyzing the Effects of Adding Bitcoin to Portfolio

This paper analyses the effect of adding Bitcoin, to the portfolio (stocks, bonds, Baltic index, MXEF, gold, real estate and crude oil) of an international investor by using daily data available from 2nd of July, 2010 to 2nd of August, 2016. We conclude that adding Bitcoin to portfolio, over the course of the considered period, always yielded a higher Sharpe ratio. This means that Bitcoin’s returns offset its high volatility. This paper, recognizing the fact that Bitcoin is a relatively new asset class, gives the readers a basic idea about the working of the virtual currency, the increasing number developments in the financial industry revolving around it, its unique features and the detailed look into its continuously growing acceptance across different fronts (Banks, Merchants and Countries) globally. We also construct optimal portfolios to reflect the highly lucrative and largely unexplored opportunities associated with investment in Bitcoin. Keywords—Portfolio management, Bitcoin, optimization, Sharpe ratio.
Polymeric films as vehicle for buccal delivery: swelling, mechanical, and bioadhesive properties.

PURPOSE
To investigate the suitability of an SCMC (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/polyethylene glycol 400/carbopol 934P) and an HPMC (hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose/polyethylene glycol 400/carbopol 934P) films as drug vehicle for buccal delivery.


METHODS
The mechanical and in vitro bioadhesive strength properties of the films were investigated using texture analyzer equipment, while swelling behavior was studied in different media, namely, distilled water and simulated saliva solution. In addition, the in vivo bioadhesion of the film was studied by estimating the film residence time on buccal mucosa of human volunteers.


RESULTS
Increase in carbopol 934P content was found to elevate the elasticity, softness and bioadhesive strength but decrease the strength and degree of swelling of both SCMC and HPMC films. SCMC films swelled more extensively in distilled water while HPMC films in simulated saliva solution. HPMC films exhibited greater in vivo bioadhesion although the in vitro bioadhesive strength was lower than SCMC films. Correlation existed between the in vivo and in vitro bioadhesion data within the polymer, but no rank correlation was observed between the two polymers.


CONCLUSION
HPMC films may be preferred over SCMC films as drug vehicle for buccal delivery as the former was tougher, more elastic, more bioadhesive in vivo and swelled in a more tolerable manner in the oral cavity than the latter.
Hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.42 versus Ringer's acetate in severe sepsis.

BACKGROUND
Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) [corrected] is widely used for fluid resuscitation in intensive care units (ICUs), but its safety and efficacy have not been established in patients with severe sepsis.


METHODS
In this multicenter, parallel-group, blinded trial, we randomly assigned patients with severe sepsis to fluid resuscitation in the ICU with either 6% HES 130/0.42 (Tetraspan) or Ringer's acetate at a dose of up to 33 ml per kilogram of ideal body weight per day. The primary outcome measure was either death or end-stage kidney failure (dependence on dialysis) at 90 days after randomization.


RESULTS
Of the 804 patients who underwent randomization, 798 were included in the modified intention-to-treat population. The two intervention groups had similar baseline characteristics. At 90 days after randomization, 201 of 398 patients (51%) assigned to HES 130/0.42 had died, as compared with 172 of 400 patients (43%) assigned to Ringer's acetate (relative risk, 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.36; P=0.03); 1 patient in each group had end-stage kidney failure. In the 90-day period, 87 patients (22%) assigned to HES 130/0.42 were treated with renal-replacement therapy versus 65 patients (16%) assigned to Ringer's acetate (relative risk, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.80; P=0.04), and 38 patients (10%) and 25 patients (6%), respectively, had severe bleeding (relative risk, 1.52; 95% CI, 0.94 to 2.48; P=0.09). The results were supported by multivariate analyses, with adjustment for known risk factors for death or acute kidney injury at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with severe sepsis assigned to fluid resuscitation with HES 130/0.42 had an increased risk of death at day 90 and were more likely to require renal-replacement therapy, as compared with those receiving Ringer's acetate. (Funded by the Danish Research Council and others; 6S ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00962156.).
The effect of integrating an Iconic programming notation into CS1

Increasing pressure from national government to improve throughput at South African tertiary education institutions presents challenges to educators of CS1 courses. In response, educators must adopt effective methods and strategies that encourage students to be successful in such courses. An approach that seeks to increase and maintain satisfactory throughput is the modification of the teaching model in these courses by adjusting presentation techniques. This paper reports on a study into the effect of integrating an experimental iconic programming notation and associated development environment with existing conventional textual technological support in the teaching model of a CS1 course. The paper reports on the comparison of the performance achievement of students using only conventional textual technological support with that of students using the integrated iconic and conventional textual technological support. The findings suggest strong evidence that the performance achievement of students in a CS1 course improves significantly with the inclusion of iconic technological support in the teaching model. Considerably more students using the integrated form of technological support are in fact successful in the CS1 course when compared with their counterparts who use conventional textual technological support only.
Erratum to: Eating two larger meals a day (breakfast and lunch) is more effective than six smaller meals in a reduced-energy regimen for patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomised crossover study

Unfortunately the values forΔ HFC in the Abstract and main text and the values on the y-axis of the graph in Fig. 2b were presented as fractions rather than percentages and were therefore 100 times lower than they should have been. The correct values for Δ HFC were −3.0% (95% CI −3.3%, −2.7%) for A6 vs −4.0% (95% CI −4.1%, −3.5%) for B2 (p=0.009). A corrected version of the graph is shown here. b
Interacting Explicit Evidence Systems

Abstract
Logic of proofs 
$\mathsf{LP}$
, introduced by S. Artemov, originally designed for describing properties of formal proofs, now became a basis for the theory of knowledge with justification (cf. S. Artemov, Evidence-based common knowledge, Technical report TR–2004018, CUNY Ph.D. Program in Computer Science, 2005). So far, in epistemic systems with justification the corresponding “evidence part”, even for multi-agent systems, consisted of a single explicit evidence logic. In this paper we introduce logics describing two interacting explicit evidence systems. We find an appropriate formalization of the intended semantics and prove the completeness of these logics with respect to both symbolic and arithmetical models. Also, we find the forgetful projections for the two-agent justification logics which are extensions of the bimodal logic 
$\mathsf{S4}^{2}$
.
Strategic Directions in Artificial Intelligence

—constructing intelligent machines, whether or not these operate in the same way as people do; —formalizing knowledge and mechanizing reasoning, both commonsense and refined expertise, in all areas of human endeavor; —using computational models to understand the psychology and behavior of people, animals, and artificial agents; and —making working with computers as easy and as helpful as working with skilled, cooperative, and possibly expert people.
HAREM: An Advanced NER Evaluation Contest for Portuguese

• HAREM is the first evaluation contest for Named Entity Recognition (NER) in Portuguese. • HAREM features several innovative traits and provides a highly configurable open source evaluator. • There were 10 participants from 6 different countries who submitted 15 official and 6 non-official submissions. Evaluation Setup • Tasks: • Identification • Semantic Classification • Morphological Classification • Scenarios • Total • Selective • Types • Absolute • Relative Golden Collection
Test: Wisdom From the Giants, Visions for the Future - Part 2

This roundtable discussion is a continuation of a plenary session featured in IEEE Design & Test (vol. 33, no. 6, Nov./Dec. 2015) in which the speakers gave their views on how ATE has evolved and changed over the years.
Geographic differences in clinical characteristics and management of COPD: the EPOCA study

AIMS
Data on differences in clinical characteristics and management of COPD in different countries and settings are limited. We aimed to characterize the profile of patients with COPD in a number of countries and their treatment in order to evaluate adherence to recommendations of international guidelines.


METHOD
This was an observational, international, cross-sectional study on patients with physician-diagnosed COPD. Demographic and clinical characteristics, risk factors, and treatment were collected by their physician via an internet web-based questionnaire developed for the study.


RESULTS
A total of 77 investigators from 17 countries provided data on 833 patients. The countries with the highest number of patients included were: Argentina (128), Ecuador (134), Spain (162), and Hong Kong (153). Overall, 79.3% were men and 81% former smokers, with a mean FEV1 = 42.7%, ranging from 34.3% in Hong Kong to 58.8% in Ecuador. Patients reported a mean of 1.6 exacerbations the previous year, with this frequency being significantly and negatively correlated with FEV1 (%) (r = -0.256; p < 0.0001). Treatment with short-acting bronchodilators and theophyllines was more frequent in Ecuador and Hong Kong compared with Spain and Argentina, and in patients belonging to lower socioeconomic levels (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Inadequacy of treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and theophyllines was high, with significant differences among countries.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in the clinical characteristics and management of COPD were significant across countries. Adherence to international guidelines appears to be low. Efforts should be made to disseminate and adapt guidelines to the socioeconomic reality of different settings.