Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Random Forest Detector and Classifier of Multiple IoT-based DDoS Attacks

In this paper two new models for Random Forest (RF) classifiers are presented. The first one discriminates Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) network attacks from normal IP (Internet Protocol) traffic and the second one classifies 10 types of attacks. General optimization procedures are proposed based on the parameters of the RF classifiers. The observed DDoS attacks are typical for botnets, comprised of IoT (Internet of Things) devices. Bot-master plays central role into coordinating the bots. The explicit aim is either resource exhaustion of the targeted machine or bandwidth saturation of the supporting channels to it. Both activities render the legitimate services unavailable. The detection process has an accuracy of 0.9999. The classification process deviates between 0.9992 and 0.9999. Processing times allow the proposed approach to be used in real-world applications.
Fire and forage quality: Postfire regrowth quality and pyric herbivory in subtropical grasslands of Nepal

Abstract Fire is rampant throughout subtropical South and Southeast Asian grasslands. However, very little is known about the role of fire and pyric herbivory on the functioning of highly productive subtropical monsoon grasslands lying within the Cwa climatic region. We assessed the temporal effect of fire on postfire regrowth quality and associated pyric‐herbivory in the subtropical monsoon grasslands of Bardia National Park, Nepal. Every year, grasslands are burned as a management intervention in the park, especially between March and May. Within a week after fire, at the end of March 2020, we established 60 m × 60 m plots within patches of burned grassland in the core area of the Park. We collected grass samples from the plots and determined physical and chemical properties of the vegetation at regular 30‐day intervals from April to July 2020, starting from 30 days after fire to assess postfire regrowth forage quality. We counted pellet groups of cervids that are abundant in the area for the same four months from 2 m × 2 m quadrats that were permanently marked with pegs along the diagonal of each 60 m × 60 m plot to estimate intensity of use by deer to the progression of postfire regrowth. We observed strong and significant reductions in crude protein (mean value 9.1 to 4.1 [55% decrease]) and phosphorus (mean value 0.2 to 0.11 [45% decrease]) in forage collected during different time intervals, that is, from 30 days to 120 days after fire. Deer utilized the burned areas extensively for a short period, that is, up to two months after fire when the burned areas contained short grasses with a higher level of crude protein and phosphorus. The level of use of postfire regrowth by chital (Axis axis) differed significantly over time since fire, with higher intensity of use at 30 days after fire. The level of use of postfire regrowth by swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) did not differ significantly until 90 days after fire, however, decreased significantly after 90 days since fire. Large‐scale single event fires, thus, may not fulfil nutritional requirements of all species in the deer assemblage in these subtropical monsoon grasslands. This is likely because the nutritional requirements of herbivores differ due to differences in body size and physiological needs—maintenance, reproduction, and lactation. We recommend a spatiotemporal manipulation of fire to reinforce grazing feedback and to yield forage of high quality for the longest possible period for a sustainable high number of deer to maintain a viable tiger population within the park.
Histone Methyltransferase DOT1L as a Promising Epigenetic Target for Treatment of Solid Tumors

The histone lysine methyltransferase DOT1L (DOT1-like histone lysine methyltransferase) is responsible for the epigenetic regulation of gene expression through specific methylation of lysine79 residue of histone H3 (H3K79) in actively transcribed genes. Its normal activity is crucial for embryonic development and adult tissues functions, whereas its aberrant functioning is known to contribute to leukemogenesis. DOT1L is the only lysine methyltransferase that does not contain a SET domain, which is a feature that allowed the development of selective DOT1L inhibitors that are currently investigated in Phase I clinical trials for cancer treatment. Recently, abnormal expression of this enzyme has been associated with poor survival and increased aggressiveness of several solid tumors. In this review evidences of aberrant DOT1L expression and activity in breast, ovarian, prostate, colon, and other solid tumors, and its relationships with biological and clinical behavior of the disease and response to therapies, are summarized. Current knowledge of the structural basis of DOT1L ability to regulate cell proliferation, invasion, plasticity and stemness, cell cycle progression, cell-to-cell signaling, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and chemoresistance, through cooperation with several molecular partners including noncoding RNAs, is also reviewed. Finally, available options for the treatment of therapeutically challenging solid tumors by targeting DOT1L are discussed.
Water Absorption Behavior and Its Effect on Static Mechanical and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Flax Fabric Reinforced Epoxy Composites

ABSTRACT In this work, four different grades of the Alkali cum Silane-treated plain-derived (irregular type) basket woven Flax fabric reinforced Epoxy (ASFE) composites were fabricated by varying their fiber weight fractions (0, 25, 35, and 45 wt.%) using compression molding technique. ASFE samples were subjected to salt water immersion test for 18 days and studied its effect on the their static and dynamic mechanical properties in accordance with ASTM standards. Also, interfacial shear strength between single flax fiber and epoxy material was determined using micro-droplet bonding test. Experimental Investigations revealed that salt water absorbed (SWA) flax/epoxy composites showed maximum drop of 23.23%, 29%, 35.43%, and 18.53% in tensile, flexural, impact and interlaminar shear strength, respectively. DMA study revealed that glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the ASFE composites were sensitive to the moisture absorption, and hence, SWA composites exhibited lower Tg value than dry composites. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy clearly exposed fiber splitting, micro-cracks, and poor interfacial bonding of the ASFE composites.
Expression of NGF/proNGF and Their Receptors TrkA, p75NTR and Sortilin in Melanoma

There is increasing evidence that nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors, the neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 1 (NTRK1/TrkA), the common neurotrophin receptor (NGFR/p75NTR) and the membrane receptor sortilin, participate in cancer growth. In melanoma, there have been some reports suggesting that NGF, TrkA and p75NTR are dysregulated, but the expression of the NGF precursor (proNGF) and its membrane receptor sortilin is unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression of NGF, proNGF, TrkA, p75NTR and sortilin by immunohistochemistry in a series of human tissue samples (n = 100), including non-cancerous nevi (n = 20), primary melanomas (n = 40), lymph node metastases (n = 20) and distant metastases (n = 20). Immunostaining was digitally quantified and revealed NGF and proNGF were expressed in all nevi and primary melanomas, and that the level of expression decreased from primary tumors to melanoma metastases (p = 0.0179 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Interestingly, TrkA protein expression was high in nevi and thin primary tumors but was strongly downregulated in thick primary tumors (p < 0.0001) and metastases (p < 0.0001). While p75NTR and sortilin were both expressed in most nevi and melanomas, there was no significant difference in expression between them. Together, these results pointed to a downregulation of NGF/ProNGF and TrkA in melanoma, and thus did not provide evidence to support the use of anti-proNGF/NGF or anti-TrkA therapies in advanced and metastatic forms of melanoma.
Structural and torsional vibration analysis of a dry screw compressor

This paper investigates torsional vibration and pulsating noise in a dry screw compressor. The compressor is designed at Gardner Denver (GD) and is oil free and use for mounting on highway trucks. They are driven using a Power Take-Off (PTO) transmission and gear box on a truck. Torque peak fluctuation and noise measurements are done and their sources are investigated and reported in this work. To accurately predict the torsional response (frequency and relative angular deflection and torque amplitude), the Holzer method is used. It is shown that the first torsional frequency is manifested as sidebands in the gear train meshing frequencies and this can lead to noise that is the result of amplitude modulation. Sensitivity analysis of the drive train identifies the weakest link in the drive train that limits the first torsional frequency to a low value. Finally, the significance of higher mode shapes on inter-lobe clearance distribution of the rotors is investigated.
Entrepreneurial universities and the effect of the types of vocational education and internships on graduates’ employability

ABSTRACT Using a sample of 15,741 graduates from the 2019 Korean Graduates Occupational Mobility National Survey, the study examines the effects of different types of vocational education, job skills-enhancing training and the quality management of university education on graduates employability. The results show that students’ participation in internships and the suitability and usefulness of the university's curriculum have a great impact. Interestingly, volunteer activities had a negative impact on the employability from all types of university and four-year university graduates.
A REVIEW OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SOUND

Few studies have stressed how access to high-quality acoustic environment affects wellbeing, quality of life, and environmental health. The acoustic environment influenced by noise pollution reduces the restorative effect generated by the natural environment. Noise policies which focus on noise level as a determinant of wanted and unwanted sounds are inadequate to control the acoustic quality of the environment. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the psychological effect of environmental sound and the direction of study for environmental sound research from 1993 to 2020. Review works of literature were identified through multiple interdisciplinary health, environmental, and urban planning databases in available open access journals. The focus of the study will look into keywords of "environmental sound", "noise", “acoustic environment” and "mental health". The review showed that previous study focused on the negative effect of noise and noise mitigation methods through the noise level controls in the guidelines. On the other hand, recent reviews continue to discuss the impact of noise further and add on a positive view of the psychological effect of environmental sound. Noise mitigation methods also focused on enhancing positive sounds and methods for a more comprehensive study of the environmental sound.
Fiscal expenditures, revenues and labour productivity in South Africa

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic emerged at a time when the South African economy was already battling to recover from the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2007–09 which led the country to experience a decade-old slowdown in labour productivity. Our study investigates the role which government plays in influencing labour productivity by estimating a log-linearized growth model augmented with a fiscal sector using the autoregressive distributive lag model applied to annual data of 1990–2020. We further disaggregate the composition of government size into seven expenditure items and six revenue items, and find i) education, health, recreation and public safety to be expenditure items most beneficial to short-run and long-run labour productivity ii) income taxes and VAT to be revenue items most beneficial to long-run productivity and yet most taxes have adverse short-run effects. The policy implications of the study are discussed.
Effectiveness of government policies in response to the first COVID-19 outbreak

This paper assesses the quantitative impact of government interventions on deaths related to the first COVID-19 outbreak. Using daily data for 32 countries and relying on the stringency of the conducted policies, we find that the greater the strength of government interventions at an early stage, the more effective these are in slowing down or reversing the growth rate of deaths. School closures have a significant impact on reducing the growth rate of deaths, which is less powerful compared to the case where a number of policy interventions are combined together. These results can be informative for governments in responding to future pandemics.
Learning from online learning journals (OLJs): experiences of postgraduate students

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the experiences of postgraduate students, Master’s and Doctoral, on using online learning journals (OLJs). In line with the nature of the study, instrumental case study was managed by the researcher as a qualitative research design in the current study. Participants include 12 graduate students, Master’s and Doctoral, studying Curriculum and Instruction. The researcher administered criterion sampling, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods, to determine participants. During the data collection process, the researcher employed interviews and written documents. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and a focus group interview were held with the participants within the scope of the interview. In respect to written documents, learning journals were reviewed by the researcher. Content analysis method, which is mostly adopted for written and visual data in qualitative research, was administrated to analyse the obtained data. The results suggest that keeping regular OLJs contributed to learners emotionally, cognitively and academically.
Varying Utilization Rates but Superior Outcomes in Liver Transplantation From Hepatitis C−positive Donors in the United States: An Analysis of the OPTN/UNOS Database

Background. Liver transplantation (LT) from hepatitis C virus (HCV)−positive donors [antibody positive (Ab+) or nucleic acid test−positive (NAT+) donors] has been reported to achieve successful outcomes. However, donor and recipient selection has not been well-characterized. Methods. Data between 2015 and 2019 were obtained from the United Network for Organ Sharing database. The utilization rates and graft survival among 35 239 potential donors and 23 780 adult LT recipients were reviewed based on donor HCV Ab/NAT status. Results. The utilization of Ab+/NAT+ donors was significantly reduced compared with HCV-negative donors (66.4% versus 80.0%, P < 0.001) among donors aged between 40 and 69 y. Recipients of livers from HCV-positive donors had lower laboratory and allocation Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores (both P < 0.001). HCV-positive donors were younger (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meyer survival curves demonstrated significantly superior 1-y graft survival in recipients of HCV-positive grafts compared with those from HCV-negative grafts (P = 0.004; 97.1% in Ab−/NAT+, 93.9% in Ab+/NAT−, and 93.7% in Ab+/NAT+ versus 91.8% in Ab−/NAT−). Multivariate analysis for 1-y graft survival identified donor age [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00-1.01] and laboratory Model for End-stage Liver Disease score (HR = 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01) as independent predictors but not donor HCV status: HR 0.77‚ 95% CI, 0.58-1.02 in Ab+/NAT−; HR 0.82‚ 95% CI, 0.66-1.03 in Ab+/NAT+; and HR 0.39‚ 95% CI, 0.10-1.55 in Ab−/NAT+. Conclusions. More widespread utilization of HCV-positive donors, especially Ab+/NAT+ donors of age 40–69 y, may expand the donor pool without impairing short-term outcomes after LT.
Pericapsular Nerve Group Block (PENG) and Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (FICB) for Positioning Patients with Hip Fractures for Spinal Anaesthesia: A Comparative Study Between The Two Blocks

Background: Hip fractures are a common and disabling injury caused by osteoporosis of the joints, and they have a significant socioeconomic impact. Any movement at the hip joint, whether during the transfer to the hospital or during a radiological procedure followed by OT, causes excruciating pain. Multiple comorbidities increase the need for regional analgesia and anaesthesia in elderly people. The primary purpose was to compare the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound guided supra inguinal FICB to that of PENG block for positioning during spinal anaesthesia. Comfort of anaesthetist while giving spinal anaesthesia and patient’s acceptance score were secondary objectives. Methods: The 60 patients in this prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled research were scheduled to undergo elective surgery for hip fractures under spinal anaesthesia. They were allotted in two groups- group FICB(n=30) and group PENG(n=30). Ultrasound guided Supra inguinal FICB was performed in FICB group and PENG block was performed in the PENG group with 20ml of 0.25% bupivacaine in each group. Evaluation of pain before intervention, just before positioning and while positioning patients for spinal anaesthesia was done using NRS score. Comfort of the anaesthetist while positioning for spinal anaesthesia and patient acceptance was also assessed. Results: The NRS score did not differ significantly between the two groups (p= 0.853). On a scale of 0 to 3, the anaesthetist's comfort delivering spinal anaesthesia did not differ significantly between the two groups (p= 0.553). There was no statistically significant link between anaesthesia acceptance and group preference (p= 0.504) Conclusion: The newly invented PENG block to facilitate sitting positioning in fracture hip joint patients for spinal anaesthesia was equally effective to supra inguinal FICB.
Taking Over the Size Effect: Asset Pricing Implications of Merger Activity

We show that merger announcement returns account for virtually all of the measured size premium. An empirical proxy for ex ante takeover exposure positively and robustly relates to cross-sectional expected returns. The relation between size and expected returns becomes positive or insignificant, rather than negative, conditional on this takeover characteristic. Asset pricing models that include a factor based on the takeover characteristic outperform otherwise similar models that include the conventional size factor. We conclude that the takeover factor should replace the conventional size factor in benchmark asset pricing models.
A Quantitative Comparative Study of Data-oriented Trust Management Schemes in Internet of Things

In the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm, all entities in the IoT network, whether home users or industrial things, receive data from other things to make decisions. However, in the decentralized, heterogeneous, and rapidly changing IoT network with billions of devices, deciding about where to get the services or information from is critical, especially because malicious entities can exist in such an unmanaged network. Security provisioning alone cannot solve the issue of service quality or reliability. One way to elevate security and reliability in the IoT network is to bridge the gap of trust between objects, and also between humans and objects, while taking into account the IoT network characteristics. Therefore, a proper trust management system must be established on top of the IoT network service architecture. Trust is related to the manner expected from objects in providing services and recommendations. Recommendations are the basis of decision making in every trust management system. Since trust management ideas in the IoT are still immature, the purpose of this article is to survey, analyze, and compare the approaches that have been taken in building trust management systems for the IoT. We break down the features of such systems by analysis and also do quantitative comparisons by simulation. This article is organized into two main parts. First, studies and approaches in this field are compared from four perspectives: (1) trust computation method, (2) resistance to attacks (3) adherence to the limitations of IoT networks and devices, and (4) performance of the trust management scheme. The second part is quantitative and simulates four major methods in this field and measures their performance. We also make extensive analytical comparisons to demonstrate the similarities and discrepancies of current IoT trust management schemes and extract the essence of a resilient trust management framework.
Exploring Eye Movement Biometrics in Real-World Activities: A Case Study of Wayfinding

Eye movement biometrics can enable continuous verification for highly secure environments such as financial transactions and defense establishments, as well as a more personalized and tailored experience in gaze-based human–computer interactions. However, there are numerous challenges to recognizing people in real environments using eye movements, such as implicity and stimulus independence. In the instance of wayfinding, this research intends to investigate implicit and stimulus-independent eye movement biometrics in real-world situations. We collected 39 subjects’ eye movement data from real-world wayfinding experiments and derived five sets of eye movement features (the basic statistical, pupillary response, fixation density, fixation semantic and saccade encoding features). We adopted a random forest and performed biometric recognition for both identification and verification scenarios. The best accuracy we obtained in the identification scenario was 78% (equal error rate, EER = 6.3%) with the 10-fold classification and 64% (EER = 12.1%) with the leave-one-route-out classification. The best accuracy we achieved in the verification scenario was 89% (EER = 9.1%). Additionally, we tested performance across the 5 feature sets and 20 time window sizes. The results showed that the verification accuracy was insensitive to the increase in the time window size. These findings are the first indication of the viability of performing implicit and stimulus-independent biometric recognition in real-world settings using wearable eye tracking.