Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forensics and Deep Learning Mechanisms for Botnets in Internet of Things: A Survey of Challenges and Solutions

The constant miniaturization of hardware and an increase in power efficiency, have made possible the integration of intelligence into ordinary devices. This trend of augmenting so-called non-intelligent everyday devices with computational capabilities has led to the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) domain. With a wide variety of applications, such as home automation, smart grids/cities, and critical infrastructure management, the IoT systems make compelling targets for cyber-attacks. In order to effectively compromise these systems, adversaries employ different advanced persistent threat (APT) methods, with one such sophisticated method, being botnets. By employing a plethora of infected machines (bots), attackers manage to compromise the IoT systems and exploit them. Prior to the appearance of the IoT domain, specialized digital forensics mechanisms were developed, in order to investigate Botnet activities in small-scale systems. Since IoT enabled botnets are scalable, technologically diverse and make use of current high-speed networks, developing forensic mechanisms capable of investigating the IoT Botnet activities has become an important challenge in the cyber-security field. Various studies have proposed, deep learning as a viable solution for handling the IoT generated data, as it was designed to handle diverse data in large volumes, requiring near real-time processing. In this study, we provide a review of forensics and deep learning mechanisms employed to investigate botnets and their applicability in the IoT environments. We provide a new definition for the IoT, in addition to a taxonomy of network forensic solutions, that were developed for both conventional, as well as, the IoT settings. Furthermore, we investigate the applicability of deep learning in network forensics, the inherent challenges of applying network forensics techniques to the IoT, and provide future direction for research in this field.
Predicting Delay in IoT Using Deep Learning: A Multiparametric Approach

The proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) requires to accommodate diverse applications with stringent performance requirements. Delay is one of the key metrics in the IoT, particularly, for domains, such as health care, where critical cases requiring an emergency response frequently occur. In this paper, we analyze the performance data generated using the IEEE 802.15. 4 standard to derive an accurate predictive model for delay-sensitive applications. A deep neural network (DNN) is adopted to model the relationship between diverse communication parameters (e.g., queue size, application traffic rate, and transmission power) and delay. Evaluation reveals that the DNN model achieves a prediction accuracy of over 98% and outperforms other popular regression models. In addition, a fine-grained analysis of the size of training data, depth (number of layers), width (number of neurons per layer), and epochs (number of iterations) is carried out in an attempt to achieve best possible prediction results with minimally complex DNN. The statistics show that the derived model achieves a comparable accuracy even when trained with a small fraction (≥10%) of data. The proposed model recommends the values for different controllable communication parameters to the transmitter that can be fine-tuned considering the desired delay bounds.
Autoimmune enteropathy in children and adults

Autoimmune enteropathy is a rare disorder characterized by severe and protracted diarrhea, weight loss from malabsorption and immune-mediated damage to the intestinal mucosa, generally occurring in infants and young children, although some cases of adult onset have been reported in the literature. Pathogenetic mechanisms involve immunological disorders, in which the presence of antienterocyte autoantibodies, although detected since first description, seems now to be secondary. As occurs frequently in autoimmunity, subjects with autoimmune enteropathy may be affected by other autoimmune disorders, sometimes leading to particular forms, i.e. the IPEX syndrome and the APECED syndrome. The prognosis of autoimmune enteropathy patients depends on the severity of digestive symptoms (including fecal output), on the severity and extension of histological lesions along the gastrointestinal apparatus, and on the presence of extra-intestinal involvement. Management of autoimmune enteropathy patients is based on nutritional support and adequate hydration to ensure optimal growth and development, together with immunosuppressive therapy. Recently, biological agents have been introduced, with apparent beneficial effects.
Accruals, Disclosure and the Pricing of Future Earnings in the European Market

The present study examines the role of disclosure in assisting market participants to form expectations of future earnings from the accrual content of reported earnings. Using the Transparency and Disclosure ratings prepared by Standard and Poor’s, we show how disclosure and accruals jointly affect the earnings expectations that are incorporated in current stock returns, depending not only on the magnitude, but also on their duration, i.e.whether they affect current or non-current operations,and their sign, i.e. whether they increase net operating assets(a positive net accrual) or decrease net operating assets(a negative net accrual).
Assessing the Percent of Necrosis after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with 24hr Infusional Cisplatin/3 Days Doxorubicin Intermittent with Ifosfamide-Doxorubicin for Osteosarcoma

Introduction Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in children and young adults and appropriate chemotherapy can increase limb sparing and overall survival. Yet, the toxicity of chemotherapy regimens including MTX can be life threatening. Therefore; we tried another chemotherapy regimen for these patients. Method and materials We investigated 15 patients aged 15 to 40 years old and used continuous infusion of cisplatin, doxorubicin intermittently with ifosfamide, doxorubicin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Percent of necrosis and toxicities was recorded for each patient. Results Out of 15 patients investigated, 13 were males and 2 females. Tumor necrosis≥ 90% (defined as good necrosis) was observed in 60% of patients. 26.7% of the patients showed leucopenia grade three or four, 26.7% had anemia grade three or four, and 20% showed thrombocytopenia grade three or four. Conclusion The above chemotherapy regimen can cause as good necrosis as the chemotherapy regimens including high dose of MTX with reduced toxicity and less nursing cares and laboratory tests. Of course small sample size limits extension of our result to all patients but trying this regimen is recommended in more patients to see more reliable results.
No evidence for TSLP pathway activity in human breast cancer

ABSTRACT Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial cell-derived cytokine that primes dendritic cells for Th2 induction. It has been implicated in different types of allergic diseases. Recent work suggested that TSLP could play an important role in the tumor microenvironment and influence tumor progression, in particular in breast cancer. In this study we systematically assessed the production of TSLP at the mRNA and protein levels in several human breast cancer cell lines, large-scale public transcriptomics data sets, and primary human breast tumors. We found that TSLP production was marginal, and concerned less than 10% of the tumors, with very low mRNA and protein levels. In most cases TSLP was undetectable and found to be expressed at lower levels in breast cancer as compared to normal breast tissue. Last, we could not detect any functional TSLP receptor (TSLPR) expression neither on hematopoietic cells nor on stromal cells within the primary tumor microenvironment. We conclude that TSLP-TSLPR pathway activity is not significantly detected within human breast cancer. Taken together, these observations do not support TSLP targeting in breast cancer.
Is There an Association between Corporate Governance and Firm Diversification? An Empirical Study with Brazilian Companies

The strategy adopted by a company can be understood as the result of mechanisms and practices of corporate governance. In turn, the performance of a firm depends directly on the decisions made by its administrators. However, managers can incorporate their own personal interests in strategic decisions, creating a level of corporate diversification, according to the operation of the corporate government. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate, empirically, if the structure of governance is different between focused and diversified firms and, furthermore, if differences in corporate governance are associated with some loss of value for the firm from the diversification. This study consists of a multiple cross section extending from 1997 to 2001. Data from 176 companies with open capital listed on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa) were used, representing 14 industry segments. The results of the multivariable analysis reveal that the size of the board of directors (InTAMC) and the participation of the executives in the profit (profit sharing) of the company (PART) are positively associated with the diversification of the firm (HPROD). Moreover, the companies with private national capital (CNTR) appeared more diversified than those with government capital; however it is important to recognize that these associations were not constant for the entire length of the study period.
A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial using a new resorbable non‐cross‐linked collagen membrane for guided bone regeneration at dehisced single implant sites: interim results of a bone augmentation procedure

Abstract Objective To compare clinical performance of a new resorbable non‐cross‐linked collagen membrane, creos xenoprotect (CXP), with a reference membrane (BG) for guided bone regeneration at dehisced implant sites. Materials and methods This randomized controlled clinical trial enrolled patients with expected dehiscence defects following implant placement to restore single teeth in the maxillary and mandibular esthetic zone and premolar area. Implants were placed using a two‐stage surgical protocol with delayed loading. Bone augmentation material placed at the implant surface was immobilized with CXP or BG membrane. Soft tissue health was followed during the healing period, and the defect size was measured at reentry and 6 months after implant placement. Results Of the 49 included patients, 24 were treated with CXP and 25 with BG. Patient characteristics did not differ between the two arms. In the CXP arm, the defect height at implant insertion was (mean ± SD) 5.1 ± 2.1 mm (n = 24) and reduced at reentry by 81% to 1.0 ± 1.3 mm (n = 23). In the BG arm, the defect height at implant insertion was 4.9 ± 1.9 mm (n = 25) and reduced at reentry by 62% to 1.7 ± 2.1 mm (n = 24). Assuming a margin of non‐inferiority of 1 mm, CXP was non‐inferior to BG. Membrane exposure rate was highest at week 3 in both arms, reaching 16.7% for BG and 8.7% for CXP. Conclusions The new resorbable non‐cross‐linked collagen membrane facilitates bone gain to support implant placement in expected dehiscence defects. The observed trend toward higher mean bone gain and lower exposure rate with CXP compared to BG should be further investigated.
Hypolipidemics Carcinogenicity and Extrapolation of Experimental Results for Human Safety Assessments.

Dyslipoproteinemias represent a group of disorders closely related to alterations of cholesterol and triglycerides. The alterations of these lipids are considered important risk factors in coronary heart disease and indicate the need for clinically effective and safe drugs. Hypolipidemic agent therapy, however, does not appear without risk since the administration of these agents is by necessity, on a long-term basis. In the conduct of animal safety studies with some hypolipidemics, hyperplastic nodules or tumors developed in the liver of rodents. Data from the literature seem to indicate that the tumor response in rodents varies with the type of hypolipidemic drug administered. This paper summarizes the studies with the new lipid-regulating agent gemfibrozil. Aside from conventional long-term studies in rodents, the ultrastructural aspects of the liver were analyzed in several species and genotoxicity assays and short-term tests for hepatocarcinogenicity were conducted. Thus, it was possible to obtain an overview of these biological phenomena in order to allow for safety extrapolations. The biological behavior of these liver nodules showed that gemfibrozil and clofibrate-induced hepatocytes had not undergone malignant transformation. Further, the phenomenon of peroxisome proliferation, a characteristic event that follows hypolipidemic administration in rodents, was not confirmed in primate or human liver. Peroxisome proliferation has been linked to the process of hepatocarcinogenesis in rodents, although genotoxicity assays were negative and initiation/promotion tests failed to elicit tumors or nodules in a system where hepatocarcinogens manifest their activity. Thus, hypolipidemics such as gemfibrozil or Clofibrate may possess low tumorigenic potential with low risk due to the lack of correlation between these tests. Nevertheless, these agents are indicated for specific lipoprotein phenotype alteration with the resulting clinical benefits.
Sleep-disordered breathing and cancer mortality: results from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study.

RATIONALE Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been associated with total and cardiovascular mortality, but an association with cancer mortality has not been studied. Results from in vitro and animal studies suggest that intermittent hypoxia promotes cancer tumor growth. OBJECTIVES The goal of the present study was to examine whether SDB is associated with cancer mortality in a community-based sample. METHODS We used 22-year mortality follow-up data from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort sample (n = 1,522). SDB was assessed at baseline with full polysomnography. SDB was categorized using the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the hypoxemia index (percent sleep time below 90% oxyhemoglobin saturation). The hazards of cancer mortality across levels of SDB severity were compared using crude and multivariate analyses. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and smoking, SDB was associated with total and cancer mortality in a dose-response fashion. Compared with normal subjects, the adjusted relative hazards of cancer mortality were 1.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-2.7) for mild SDB (AHI, 5-14.9), 2.0 (95% CI, 0.7-5.5) for moderate SDB (AHI, 15-29.9), and 4.8 (95% CI, 1.7-13.2) for severe SDB (AHI ≥ 30) (P-trend = 0.0052). For categories of increasing severity of the hypoxemia index, the corresponding relative hazards were 1.6 (95% CI, 0.6-4.4), 2.9 (95% CI, 0.9-9.8), and 8.6 (95% CI, 2.6-28.7). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that baseline SDB is associated with increased cancer mortality in a community-based sample. Future studies that replicate our findings and look at the association between sleep apnea and survival after cancer diagnosis are needed.
The MILD Procedure

We are following with great interest the increasing generally favorable impressions of the long‐term results of the MILD (minimally invasive lumbar decompression) procedure for treating spinal stenosis due to hypertrophied ligamentum flavum (LF). We are also influenced by the cautionary surgical observations and opinions of Tumialan et al and publications about the lack of efficacy or placebo effect. The impression indeed has been virtual safety of the MILD procedure, but Tumialan et al describe some major complications resulting from the procedure. An algorithm for clinical use is needed.
Control of Penicillium Digitatum on Orange Fruits with Calcium Chloride Dipping

Citrus is one of the most widely grown plants in the world; however, it is affected by many types of fruit rot diseases after harvesting. Green mold disease of orange, caused by Penicillium digitatum Sacc, can cause extensive postharvest losses. The goal of this research was to use postharvest calcium applications to reduce fruit rot disease by soaking in solutions of CaCl2 and to test the effect of calcium on mycelial growth. Application of calcium chloride at 0.2%, 0.5% and 1.0% concentrations significantly decreased mycelial growth. In vivo studies showed fruit treatment by calcium soaking at 2% , 4% and 6% concentrations significantly reduced rots incidence of fruits. The optimal conditions of fungal growth were 25oC and 87% relative humidity.
Managing Pharmaceutical Research And Development Portfolios: An Empirical Inquiry Into Managerial Decision Making In The Context Of A Merger

Managing Pharmaceutical Research and Development Portfolios: An Empirical Inquiry into Managerial Decision Making in the Context of a Merger By Catrina Marie Jones May 2016 Committee Chair: Danny Bellenger Major Academic Unit: Executive Doctorate in Business Most research and development portfolio managers face one common problem: They are expected to select projects for a portfolio that will yield high returns and a viable pipeline for future growth. The onset of a merger or acquisition adds complexity to existing portfolio management challenges. Prior research has shown that most research and development projects fail or terminate after a merger or acquisition, especially within the pharmaceutical industry. This research takes a case study approach to examine how managers make decisions during the portfolio management process. We apply a narrative-based decision theory to explain what influences their decisions. The major findings that emerged are: (1) post-merger processes and methods are applied with greater rigor and lack integration, (2) managers’ perspectives on how they make decisions differ from reality, and (3) managers inject personal criterion into standardized portfolio evaluations. We contribute to the literature on portfolio management by providing insight into merger influences on managerial decision making. The implications of R&D post-merger portfolio shrinkage are discussed.
Effects of pattern element density upon displacement limits for motion detection in random binary luminance patterns

The upper motion displacement threshold (Dmax) was determined with two-frame motion sequences of random binary luminance patterns, over a range of pattern element sizes and densities. Dmax was little affected by density at small element sizes (less than 5 arcmin), in agreement with previous reports. However, at larger element sizes (greater than 9 arcmin) Dmax increased as element density was reduced in the range 50-5 % . We explain our findings by a model which takes into account spatial-frequency filtering prior to motion detection, and the effects of pattern density upon the statistics of random binary patterns. We also implicate the dependence of Dmax upon the contrast energy of the elements in broadband patterns, and provide a direct demonstration that Dmax is contrast limited over a wide range of pattern contrasts (72—2.5% ). Previous reports that Dmax is independent of density should be modified to take into account the complex effects of density upon the statistics of random patterns, and the existence of physiological filtering prior to motion detection.
Intestinal and cerebral oxygenation during severe isovolemic hemodilution and subsequent hyperoxic ventilation in a pig model.

BACKGROUND During severe isovolemic hemodilution, determination of critical hematocrit levels for the microvascular oxygenation of different organs might provide more insight into the effect of the redistribution of blood flow and oxygen delivery on the oxygenation of different organs. The effect of an increased amount of dissolved oxygen on tissue oxygenation during severely decreased hematocrit levels is not clear. METHODS Fifteen anesthetized pigs were randomized between an experimental group (n = 10), in which severe isovolemic hemodilution was performed with 6% hydroxyethylstarch (1:1), and a time-matched control group (n = 5). Systemic, intestinal, and cerebral hemodynamic and oxygenation parameters were monitored. Microvascular oxygen partial pressure (muPo(2) ) was measured in the cerebral cortex and the intestinal serosa and mucosa, using the oxygen-dependent quenching of Pd-porphyrin phosphorescence. In the final phase of the experiment, fraction of inspired oxygen was increased to 1.0. RESULTS Hemodilution decreased hematocrit from 25.3 +/- 3.0 to 7.6 +/- 1.2% (mean +/- SD). Systemic and intestinal oxygen delivery fell with the onset of hemodilution; intestinal oxygen consumption deceased at a hematocrit of 9.9%, whereas the systemic oxygen consumption decreased at a hematocrit of 7.6%. During hemodilution, the intestinal and cerebral oxygen extraction ratios increased from baseline with 130 and 52%, respectively. Based on the intersection of the two best-fit regression lines, determined by a least sum of squares technique, similar critical hematocrit levels were found for systemic oxygen consumption and the cerebral and intestinal mucosa muPo(2); the intestinal serosa muPo(2) decreased at an earlier stage (P < 0.05). Hyperoxic ventilation improved the muPo(2) values but not systemic or intestinal oxygen consumption. CONCLUSIONS During isovolemic hemodilution, the diminished oxygen supply was redistributed in favor of organs with a lower capacity to increase oxygen extraction. It is hypothesized that redirection of the oxygen supply within the intestines resulted in the preservation of oxygen consumption and mucosal muPo(2) compared with serosal muPo(2).
Extracellularly Delivered Single-Stranded Viral RNA Causes Neurodegeneration Dependent on TLR7

Innate immune receptors represent an evolutionarily ancient system that allows organisms to detect and rapidly respond to pathogen- and host-derived factors. TLRs are predominantly expressed in immune cells and mediate such a response. Although this class of pattern recognition receptors is involved in CNS disorders, the knowledge of ligands leading to activation of TLRs and to subsequent CNS damage is limited. We report in this study that ssRNA causes neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation dependent on TLR7 in the CNS. TLR7 is not only expressed in microglia, the major immune cells of the brain, but also in neurons of the CNS. Extracellularly delivered ssRNA40, an oligoribonucleotide derived from HIV and an established ligand of TLR7, induces neuronal cell death dependent on TLR7 and the central adapter molecule MyD88 in vitro. Activation of caspase-3 is involved in neuronal damage mediated by TLR7. This cell-autonomous neuronal cell death induced by ssRNA40 is amplified in the presence of microglia that mount an inflammatory response to ssRNA40 through TLR7. Intrathecal administration of ssRNA40 causes widespread neurodegeneration in wild-type but not in TLR7−/− mice, confirming that neuronal cell death induced by ssRNA40 through TLR7 occurs in vivo. Our results point to a possible mechanism through which extracellularly delivered ssRNA contributes to CNS damage and determine an obligatory role for TLR7 in this pathway.