Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detecting Algorithmically Generated Domain-Flux Attacks With DNS Traffic Analysis

Recent botnets such as Conficker, Kraken, and Torpig have used DNS-based “domain fluxing” for command-and-control, where each Bot queries for existence of a series of domain names and the owner has to register only one such domain name. In this paper, we develop a methodology to detect such “domain fluxes” in DNS traffic by looking for patterns inherent to domain names that are generated algorithmically, in contrast to those generated by humans. In particular, we look at distribution of alphanumeric characters as well as bigrams in all domains that are mapped to the same set of IP addresses. We present and compare the performance of several distance metrics, including K-L distance, Edit distance, and Jaccard measure. We train by using a good dataset of domains obtained via a crawl of domains mapped to all IPv4 address space and modeling bad datasets based on behaviors seen so far and expected. We also apply our methodology to packet traces collected at a Tier-1 ISP and show we can automatically detect domain fluxing as used by Conficker botnet with minimal false positives, in addition to discovering a new botnet within the ISP trace. We also analyze a campus DNS trace to detect another unknown botnet exhibiting advanced domain-name generation technique.
Comparing and combining read miss clustering and software prefetching

A recent latency tolerance technique, read-miss clustering, restructures code to send demand-miss references in parallel to the underlying memory system. An alternative, widely-used latency tolerance technique is software prefetching, which initiates data fetches ahead of expected demand-miss references by a certain distance. Since both techniques seem to target the same types of latencies and use the same system resources, it is unclear which technique is superior or if both can be combined. This paper shows that these two techniques are actually mutually beneficial, each helping to overcome limitations of the other: We perform our study for uniprocessor and multiprocessor configurations, in simulation and on a real machine (the Convex Exemplar). Compared to prefetching alone (the state-of-the-art implemented in systems today), the combination of the two techniques reduces the execution time by an average of 21% across all cases studied in simulation, and by an average of 16% for 5 out of 10 cases on the Exemplar. The combination sees execution time reductions relative to clustering alone averaging 15% for 6 out of 11 cases in simulation and 20% for 6 out of 10 cases on the Exemplar.
The factor structure of the mental health continuum-short form (MHC-SF) in Serbia: an evaluation using exploratory structural equation modeling

Abstract Background: The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) is a brief measure to assess emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Aims: We examined the factor structure of the MHC-SF in Serbia. A secondary goal was to examine measurement invariance and latent mean differences across gender. Method: The methods of Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) were used to investigate the factor structure of the scale in a large sample (N = 1883). We compared 1-, 2-, and 3-factor models of mental well-being. Results: The results supported the superiority of the 3-factor model of well-being over the alternatives. ESEM yielded better fit with the data and considerably smaller factor correlations than did CFA. ESEM also uncovered a number of cross-loadings in the MHC-SF. Full measurement invariance was established across gender, yet no significant gender differences were identified in the latent means. Conclusions: These results indicate that emotional, social, and psychological well-being represents correlated yet distinct factors in Serbia. The results also suggest that ESEM is a more appropriate method than CFA for examining the factor structure of mental well-being. The contributions of ESEM to current debates surrounding the distinction between hedonic and eudaimonic well-being are discussed.
Surgical management of adrenal cysts: a single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVE To analyze surgical methods and evaluate treatment efficacy and safety for managing adrenal cystic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients presenting with adrenal lesions of the West China Hospital were reviewed retrospectively from January 2003 to April 2013 and 47 were diagnosed as adrenal cysts. Basic information, clinical history, physical examination, laboratory investigations, abdominal ultrasound and enhanced computed tomography were detailed noted. Cysts with different surgical management were analyzed and surgery option, operative time, postoperative complications and after-surgery hospital stay were all noted. The final diagnosis was judged by histopathology. Patients were followed from 3 month to 10 years. RESULTS All the 47 patients with a mean age of 43.8 years were managed by surgical intervention. Compared laparoscopic technology with open technology, the laparoscopic has the advantage of a shorter operation time, shorter hospital stay after surgery and enhanced cosmesis. The histopathologic result was: 23 (50%) were endothelial cysts and 16 (35%) were pseudocysts. One patient had evidence to recurrence at the followed-up stage. CONCLUSION Adrenal cysts are rare and with the development of imaging techniques many of these are diagnosed incidentally. CT has advantages in detecting the cysts with haemorrhage, intracystic debris, calcification and mixed adrenal mass. Minimally invasive surgery offers equivalent efficacy to traditional open procedures, while providing a shorter operation time, shorter convalescence and improved cosmesis. Patients after surgical resection should be followed up closely especially if functional cysts and histopathology of cystic tumor are present.
Application of Advanced Oxidation Processes for the Treatment of Recalcitrant Agro-Industrial Wastewater: A Review

Agro-industrial wastewaters are characterized by the presence of multiple organic and inorganic contaminants of environmental concern. The high pollutant load, the large volumes produced, and the seasonal variability makes the treatment of these wastewaters an environmental challenge. A wide range of wastewater treatment processes are available, however the continuous search for cost-effective treatment methods is necessary to comply with the legal limits of release in sewer systems and/or in natural waters. This review presents a state-of-the-art of the application of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to some worldwide generated agro-industrial wastewaters, such as olive mill, winery and pulp mill wastewaters. Studies carried out just with AOPs or combined with physico-chemical or biological treatments were included in this review. The main remarks and factors affecting the treatment efficiency such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total organic carbon (TOC), and total polyphenols removal are discussed. From all the studies, the combination of processes led to better treatment efficiencies, regardless the wastewater type or its physico-chemical characteristics.
Activation of Src and Src‐associated signaling pathways in relation to hypoxia in human cancer xenograft models

The hypoxic response in vitro involves alterations in signaling proteins, including Src, STAT3 and AKT that are considered to be broadly pro‐survival. The involvement of these signaling proteins in the hypoxic microenviroments that occur in solid tumors was investigated by the use of multicolor fluorescence image analysis to colocalize signaling proteins and regions of hypoxia in 4 human tumor xenografts, pancreatic carcinoma BxPC3 and PANC1 and cervical squamous cell carcinoma ME180 and SiHa. Expression levels of total Src protein (mean intensity × labeled region fraction) were higher in hypoxic regions, identified using the nitroimidazole probe EF5, relative to non‐EF5 regions in all 4 tumor models. This was associated with higher levels of phosphorylated (p‐) Y419p‐Src and its substrate Y861p‐FAK in EF5 positive regions of BxPC3 tumors. This effect was also seen in tumor‐bearing mice continuously breathing 7% oxygen for 3 hr which markedly increased the extent of EF5 positive labeling. In contrast, the hypoxia treatment resulted in a significant decrease in S727p‐STAT3 in BxPC3 xenografts and suggested that STAT3 activity is responsive to acute hypoxia, whereas Src‐FAK signaling is associated with predominantly chronically hypoxic EF5 positive regions. Src activity in both hypoxic and nonhypoxic BxPC3 tumor regions was suppressed when mice were treated with the Src inhibitor AZD0530 (25 mg/kg/day, 5 days), suggesting that both hypoxic and normoxic tumor regions are accessible to pharmacological Src inhibition. These results show that signaling pathways are responsive to tumor hypoxia in vivo, although the effects appear to differ between individual tumor types. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Psychometric Properties of the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale in a Diverse Sample of Children Exposed to Interpersonal Violence

This study determined psychometric properties of the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS) with an ethnically diverse sample of 383 children 2 to 7 years of age exposed to interpersonal violence and participating in a community-based intervention. Means and alpha coefficients for the total scale and 3 subscales fell within previously reported parameters. Separate exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling revealed that compared to the PEDS's 3-factor structure (Anxious/Withdrawn, Fearful, Act Out), a modified PEDS model with 2 latent factors (Act Out and Internalize) better fit the data and also held for both African American and White subsamples. Different correlations between the two factors and the Revised Behavior Problem Checklist further suggested that the factors represented unique latent constructs and gave evidence of construct validity. The modified PEDS could potentially be used for screening children exposed to violence.
[A study on relationship between glutathione S-transferase mu gene deletion and senile cataract susceptibility].

OBJECTIVE To study the relationship between glutathione S-transferase mu (GST mu) gene deletion and senile cataract (SC) susceptibility. METHOD Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to investigate the rates of GST mu gene deletion in 59 cases with SC and 112 healthy controls. RESULTS The rate of GST mu gene deletion in cases with SC was 69.5% which was significantly higher than that of the controls, 50.9% (P < 0.05). An analysis stratified by smoking and nonsmoking showed that GST mu gene deletion rate in smoking subjects with SC was higher. Because of the small sample size of this study, although the rate of GST mu gene deletion in smoking subjects with SC has reached 72.4%, that is not significantly different from that of the controls statistically (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION SC correlates with GST mu gene deletion and GST mu gene deletion is one of the hereditary factors for susceptibility to SC.
Intranasal LPS-Mediated Parkinson’s Model Challenges the Pathogenesis of Nasal Cavity and Environmental Toxins

Accumulating evidence implicates the relationship between neuroinflammation and pathogenesis in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD). The nose has recently been considered a gate way to the brain which facilitates entry of environmental neurotoxin into the brain. Our study aims to build a PD model by a natural exposure route. In this report, we establish a new endotoxin-based PD model in mice by unilateral intranasal (i.n.) instillation of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) every other day for 5 months. These mice display a progressive hypokinesia, selective loss of dopaminergic neurons, and reduction in striatal dopamine (DA) content, as well as α-synuclein aggregation in the SN, without systemic inflammatory and immune responses. This new PD model provides a tool for studying the inflammation-mediated chronic pathogenesis and searching for therapeutic intervention in glia-neuron pathway that will slow or halt neurodegeneration in PD.
McCammond's normal forms for free aperiodic semigroups revisited

This paper revisits the solution of the word problem for $\omega$-terms interpreted over finite aperiodic semigroups, obtained by J. McCammond. The original proof of correctness of McCammond's algorithm, based on normal forms for such terms, uses McCammond's solution of the word problem for certain Burnside semigroups. In this paper, we establish a new, simpler, correctness proof of McCammond's algorithm, based on properties of certain regular languages associated with the normal forms. This method leads to new applications.
Aging, Habitual Exercise, and Dynamic Arterial Compliance

BackgroundA reduction in compliance of the large-sized cardiothoracic (central) arteries is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease with advancing age. Methods and ResultsWe determined the role of habitual exercise on the age-related decrease in central arterial compliance by using both cross-sectional and interventional approaches. First, we studied 151 healthy men aged 18 to 77 years: 54 were sedentary, 45 were recreationally active, and 53 were endurance exercise–trained. Central arterial compliance (simultaneous B-mode ultrasound and arterial applanation tonometry on the common carotid artery) was lower (P <0.05) in middle-aged and older men than in young men in all 3 groups. There were no significant differences between sedentary and recreationally active men at any age. However, arterial compliance in the endurance-trained middle-aged and older men was 20% to 35% higher than in the 2 less active groups (P <0.01). As such, age-related differences in central arterial compliance were smaller in the endurance-trained men than in the sedentary and recreationally active men. Second, we studied 20 middle-aged and older (53±2 years) sedentary healthy men before and after a 3-month aerobic exercise intervention (primarily walking). Regular exercise increased central arterial compliance (P <0.01) to levels similar to those of the middle-aged and older endurance-trained men. These effects were independent of changes in body mass, adiposity, arterial blood pressure, or maximal oxygen consumption. ConclusionsRegular aerobic-endurance exercise attenuates age-related reductions in central arterial compliance and restores levels in previously sedentary healthy middle-aged and older men. This may be one mechanism by which habitual exercise lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease in this population.
A New Association Evaluation Stage in Cartoon Apprehension: Evidence from an ERP Study

The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal cortical activation patterns underlying different stages of humor comprehension (e.g., detection of incongruity stage, resolution of incongruity stage, and affective stage). Event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured when 16 subjects were apprehending cartoon pictures including humorous, non-humorous and unrelated items. Results showed that both humorous and unrelated items elicited a more negative ERP deflection (N500-800) than non-humorous ones between 500 - 800 ms, which might reflect detection to incongruent element during humor apprehension. Then, both humorous and non-humorous items elicited a more positive ERP deflection (P800-1000) than unrelated ones between 800 - 1000 ms, which might reflect a classification process preliminarily evaluating whether there were attainable cues in the pictures used to form possible association between context and picture (we named it “association evaluation” stage). Furthermore, humorous items elicited a more positive slow wave than non-humorous items which also elicited a more positive wave than unrelated items between 1000 - 1600 ms, during which this component might be involved in the forming of novel associations (resolution of incongruity). Lastly, between 1600 - 2000 ms, humorous items elicited a more positive ERP deflection (P1600-2000) than both non-humorous and unrelated items, which might be related to emotion processing during humor apprehension. Based on these results, we deeply subdivided the second stage (resolution of incongruity) into two stages: association evaluation and incongruity resolution.
Mucormycosis in Iran: a systematic review

Fungi in the order Mucorales cause acute, invasive and frequently fatal infections in susceptible patients. This study aimed to perform a systematic review of all reported mucormycosis cases during the last 25 years in Iran. After a comprehensive literature search, we identified 98 cases in Iran from 1990–2015. The mean patient age was 39.8 ± 19.2 years. Diabetes was the most common underlying condition (47.9%), and 22.4% of the patients underwent solid organ or bone marrow transplantation. The most common clinical forms of mucormycosis were rhinocerebral (48.9%), pulmonary (9.2%) and cutaneous (9.2%). Eight cases of disseminated disease were identified. Overall mortality in the identified cases was 40.8%, with the highest mortality rate in patients diagnosed with disseminated infection (75%). The mortality rate in rhinocerebral infection patients was significantly lower (45.8%). Rhinocerebral infection was the most common clinical manifestation in diabetes patients (72.9%). Patients were diagnosed using various methods including histopathology (85.7%), microscopy (12.3%) and culture (2.0%). Rhizopus species were the most prevalent (51.7%), followed by Mucor species (17.2%). Sixty‐nine patients were treated with a combination of surgery and antifungal therapy (resulting survival rate, 66.7%). Owing to the high mortality rate of advanced mucormycosis, early diagnosis and treatment may significantly improve survival rates. Therefore, increased monitoring and awareness of this life‐threatening disease is critical.
The Short Prolactin Receptor Predominates in Endothelial Cells of Micro- and Macrovascular Origin

Background: Controversial reports on prolactin receptors (PRL-R), the long and short form, on endothelial cells (EC) may be explained by the choice of EC derived from the micro- and macrovascular bed of either endocrine and non-endocrine organs. Methods: We studied here PRL-R expression in organs [bovine corpus luteum (CL), umbilical vein, aorta] and in organ-derived EC cultures. Results: In the intact CL, both PRL-R forms were present at mRNA and protein level throughout the oestrous cycle stages. The short form prevailed as protein. PRL-R-positive EC were noted by immunofluorescent staining in arterial blood vessels of CL septa, in the umbilical vein and the aorta. In EC cultures of micro- and macrovascular origin, transcripts of both PRL-R forms were shown; again the short-form protein prevailed. Blocking experiments with anti-prolactin (PRL) antibody led to a 60% decrease in cell growth. Treatment with PRL had no effect. Conclusion: PRL-R expression in micro- and macrovascular EC is associated with the predominant short form.
Spatial and temporal patterns of sediment storage over 45 years in Carnation Creek, BC, a previously glaciated mountain catchment

The movement of sediment through mountain river networks remains difficult to predict, as processes beyond streamflow and particle size are responsible for the entrainment and transport of bedload sediment. In deglaciated catchments, additional complexity arises from glacial impacts on landscape organization. Research to date indicates that the quantity of sediment stored in the channel is an important component of sediment transport in systems which alternate between supply and transport limited states, but limited long‐term field data exist which can capture storage‐transfer dynamics over a timescale encompassing episodic supply typical of mountain streams. We use a 45‐year dataset with annual and decadal‐scale data on sediment storage, channel morphology, and wood loading to investigate the spatial and temporal organization of storage in Carnation Creek, a previously glaciated 11 km2 catchment on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Wide-Speed-Range Estimation With Online Parameter Identification Schemes of Sensorless Induction Motor Drives

Recently, the development of speed estimation methods for sensorless control of induction motor drives has found great interest in the research community. Parameter adaptation schemes play an important role for better speed estimation over a wide range from zero to high levels beyond the rated speed. Therefore, parallel identification schemes for both speed and stator resistance of sensorless induction motor drives are proposed for a wide range of speed estimation. These estimation algorithms combine a sliding-mode current observer with Popov's hyperstability theory. Low- and zero-speed operations of the proposed sliding-mode-observer (SMO)-based speed estimation combined with an online stator resistance adaptation scheme are investigated. A modified SMO-based speed estimation scheme for field-weakening operation is also introduced. The mismatch problem of magnetizing inductance in the field-weakening region is treated by an online identification scheme. Magnetizing inductance, estimated in this way, is further utilized within the SMO, so that the main flux saturation variation is taken into consideration. The performance of the proposed SMO and its speed estimation accuracy, with an indirect field-oriented controlled induction motor, are verified by simulation and experimental results over a wide speed range from zero to high values beyond the base speed.
Comparison of Clinical Safety and Outcomes of Early versus Delayed Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis: A Meta-Analysis

Objective. To compare the clinical safety and outcomes of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Methods. Pertinent studies were selected from the Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases, references from published articles, and reviews. Seven randomized controlled trials (early laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy) were selected. Conventional meta-analysis according to Cochrane Collaboration was used for the pooling of the results. Results. Seven trials with 1106 patients were included. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of bile duct injury (Peto odds ratio 0.49 (95% confidence interval 0.05 to 4.72); P = 0.54) or conversion to open cholecystectomy (risk ratio 0.91 (95% confidence interval 0.69 to 1.20); P = 0.50). The total hospital stay was shorter by 4 days for early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (mean difference −4.12 (95% confidence interval −5.22 to −3.03) days; P < 0.00001). Conclusion. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy during acute cholecystitis is safe and shortens the total hospital stay.