Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Detection of IoT Botnets Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning

As the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices connected to the network rapidly increases, network attacks such as flooding and Denial of Service (DoS) are also increasing. These attacks cause network disruption and denial of service to IoT devices. However, a large number of heterogenous devices deployed in the IoT environment make it difficult to detect IoT attacks using traditional rule-based security solutions. It is challenging to develop optimal security models for each type of the device. Machine learning (ML) is an alternative technique that allows one to develop optimal security models based on empirical data from each device. We employ the ML technique for IoT attack detection. We focus on botnet attacks targeting various IoT devices and develop ML-based models for each type of device. We use the N-BaIoT dataset generated by injecting botnet attacks (Bashlite and Mirai) into various types of IoT devices, including a Doorbell, Baby Monitor, Security Camera, and Webcam. We develop a botnet detection model for each device using numerous ML models, including deep learning (DL) models. We then analyze the effective models with a high detection F1-score by carrying out multiclass classification, as well as binary classification, for each model.
Effects of environmental variables on survey catch rates and distribution by size of shallow- and deep-water Cape hakes, Merluccius capensis and Merluccius paradoxus off Namibia

In order to study the effects of temperature, oxygen, salinity and time of day on survey trawl catches, we modeled observed catches of juvenile, small, medium and large hakes per station as functions of zenith angle of the sun, geographical position, year, temperature, salinity, oxygen and depth. We used data from summer demersal surveys conducted during the period 2002–2015, together with a computation of the corresponding light level data from which the solar zenith angles were obtained, and fitted the generalized additive models to these data. Based on best model results, important covariates were oxygen, depth, geographical position and temperature. The best models explained 70%, 69%, 57% and 57% of the variability in catches of juvenile, small, medium and large Merluccius capensis, respectively, and 71%, 68%, 81% and 70% of juvenile, small, medium and large Merluccius paradoxus, respectively. The significant effects of temperature, oxygen, depth and geographical position on survey catches of hake of different size groups indicate that survey size structure may be affected by the behavior of both species towards environmental conditions. Greater care should therefore be taken when interpreting hake survey biomass estimates, based on swept area method, especially those that were collected during exceptional unfavourable environmental conditions. It would also be highly desirable if the oceanographic conditions are collected on each trawl station in order to improve understanding of the linkage between resources and environmental conditions.
Multi-sensor fusion approach based on nonlinear H∞ filter with interval type 2 fuzzy adaptive parameters tuning for unmanned vehicle localization

In most applications of autonomous navigation, the state of a system must be estimated from noisy sensors. Accurate estimation of the true system state can be achieved using data fusion algorithms. Furthermore, the fusion scheme can be affected by many factors such as modeling errors and parameters uncertainties. The gaps and inconsistencies due to the sensors noise and modeling errors can be reached with robust nonlinear filtering. In this article, a new framework has been developed for data fusion algorithms based on nonlinear NH∞ filter with fuzzy adaptive bound and adaptive disturbances attenuations. Type-1 Fuzzy Adaptive NH∞ algorithm has been proposed and compared with the Interval Type 2 Fuzzy Adaptive NH∞, for unmanned vehicle localization. The proposed algorithms fuse data from low-cost sensors using inertial navigation system, Global Positioning System and monocular vision. Type-1 Fuzzy Adaptive NH∞ and Interval Type 2 Fuzzy Adaptive NH∞ algorithms, adaptively, handle the effects of noisy sensors, parameters uncertainties and modeling errors. Both algorithms use adaptive bounds ( δ i ) and adaptive disturbance attenuation ( γ ) for higher-order terms of the Taylor development. The adaptive bounds consider issues associated to Gyro drift, image distortion and Global Positioning System dilution of precision which make the proposed algorithms more accurate than the classical NH∞. The validating experiment and the efficiency of Type-1 Fuzzy Adaptive NH∞ and Interval Type 2 Fuzzy Adaptive NH∞ have been conducted in real scenario and in unstructured outdoor environment without any a priori knowledge of the evolution of the vehicle. The experimental results have demonstrated the robustness and efficiency of these two filtering strategies against uncertainties and their online sensor switching capability. The Interval Type 2 Fuzzy Adaptive NH∞ algorithm provides more accuracy and robustness compared to the Type-1 Fuzzy Adaptive NH∞.
Leverage and bank’s performance: do type and crises matter?

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effect of leverage on banking system performance in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries considering the business model differences in the banking industry (commercial and Islamic banks) and the role of the financial crises. Empirically there is a negative relationship between debt financing and the performance of banks, which supports the signalling theory and contradicts the agency cost theory. Bank’s business model is among the factors that affect banks’ performance; commercial banks are more profitable than Islamic banks. The 2007/2008 financial crises affect GCC banks’ performance negatively. After two years of its occurrence, two years were needed until the crises were transferred to the GCC banking system.
A versatile reactive oxygen species‐responsive gels sensor for analysis of metabolic species

We report a flexible redox responsive polymer-based sensor for detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The sensor comprises multilayers of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), carbon nanotube/cellulose nanocrystal (CNT/CNC) and a redox responsive poly (glycidyl methacrylate- co -ethylene glycol dimethacrylate- co -vinyl ferrocene), herewith called poly (GMA- co -EGDMA- co Fc) nanoferrogels. These sensor layers were printed on a micropillared polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The nanoferrogel sensor versatility has been demonstrated in its effective detection of ROS species, specifically H 2 O 2 , peroxylipids, and oxidative deriving species such as cholesterol and unsaturated triglycerides. The nanoferrogel ROS sensor rapidly (~1 min) responds to both H 2 O 2 and peroxylipids with a limit of detection (LOD) of ~0.060 ± 0.001 µg/ ml) and 0.012 ± 0.001 µg/ml, respectively. The cholesterol oxidase and lipoxygenase-based nanoferrogel sensor were successfully evaluated for the detection of cholesterol (LOD of 0.12 ± 0.02 µg/ml) and glyceryltrilinoeate (LOD of 1.8 ± 0.2 ng/ml) standards, respectively. These enzyme-loaded ROS nanoferrogel sensors were also evaluated for quantification of cholesterol and glyceryltrilinoeate in bacon lard and olive oils. The fabricated flexible ROS sensors are versatile for quantitation of oxidative stress biomarkers, useful in myriad applications including clinical, environmental, food, and plant physiology.
Livestock grazing disrupts plant–insect interactions on salt marshes

Studies of grassland communities have demonstrated that increasing vertebrate grazing decreases the diversity of specialised herbivorous insects, while plant diversity is maintained or increased. However, we still have a limited understanding of the causal mechanisms underlying these contrasting observations of two tightly linked groups of organisms. We used spatially linked plant and moth observations from salt marshes, sampled for 3 years along an experimental sheep‐grazing gradient (0, 1–2, 3–4 and 10 sheep ha−1), to test whether the disruption of plant–insect interactions by large herbivores accounts for these contrasting grazing effects. Moths were caught using emergence traps, which were moved and repositioned every 3 weeks. Firstly, we quantified species turnover between the grazing regimes for both taxa (measured as Sørensen dissimilarity) using a null‐model approach. Secondly, we analysed the number of observed insect ̶ host associations under the different regimes. Species turnover between grazing regimes was significant (after correcting for rarefaction effects) for moth species, but not for plants, indicating very few and random effects of grazing on plant species composition. The percentage of realised plant–moth associations decreased from 37% in the absence of grazing to 6.5% under high stocking densities. We thus conclude that vertebrate grazing caused a disruption of plant–moth associations, probably by rendering the host‐plants unsuitable for most of the moth species. Our findings provide further mechanistic understanding on how large herbivores shape arthropod communities and illustrate the importance of host‐plant associations in explaining effects of natural or anthropogenic habitat modification.
Primordial Germ Cell Reprogramming

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the embryonic precursors of the gametes. Thus, they are unipotent cells. However, PGCs share some common features with pluripotent stem cells. Among them, PGCs show alkaline phosphatase activity and express stage-specific embryonic antigens and pluripotency factors Lin28, Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog. Under specific conditions, they undergo spontaneous reprogramming in vivo. Moreover, they can be easily reprogrammed in vitro into pluripotent embryonic germ cells (EGCs) by culturing them in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor or the epigenetic modulator trichostatin A. Previous work in our laboratory has also proven that hypoxia alone can reprogram PGCs into hypoxia-induced embryonic germ-like cells, which have a pluripotent phenotype but which do not show self-renewal capacity. Therefore, PGCs are an interesting model to further comprehensively understand the process of cell reprogramming. This chapter reviews various methods to achieve PGC reprogramming, as well as the molecular pathways involved. We focus on soluble factors and genetic strategies to obtain pluripotent cells from PGCs. Special emphasis will be given to factors implied in energetic metabolism, epigenetics, and cell signaling transduction, both in vitro and in vivo.
Dated phylogeography of western North American subalpine marshmarigolds (Caltha spp., Ranunculaceae): Miocene–Pliocene divergence of hexaploids, multiple origins of allododecaploids during the Pleistocene, and repeated recolonization of Last Glacial Maximum glaciated regions

In order to understand how a montane polyploid species complex responded to Cenozoic mountain uplift and climate change, we reconstructed the biogeographic history of the subalpine marshmarigold polyploid complex, including Caltha biflora, Caltha chionophila and Caltha leptosepala. Phylogenies at multiple taxonomic levels were used to estimate the timing of species divergence, allopolyploid formation and migration patterns, and to identify Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) refugia and recolonization routes.
Temptation and Commitment: Understanding Hand-to-Mouth Behavior

This paper presents a model of consumption behavior that explains the presence of ‘wealthy hand-to-mouth’ consumers using a mechanism that differs from those analyzed previously. We show that a two-asset model with temptation preferences generates a demand for commitment and thus illiquidity, leading to hand-to-mouth behavior even when liquid assets deliver higher returns than illiquid assets. This model fits other features of the data, such as the fact that the Marginal Propensity to Consume declines only slowly with shock size. Moreover, temptation and commitment have important policy implications: we show that housing subsidies and mandatory mortgage amortization increase household savings.
On the distribution, taxonomy, and natural history of the Indian Smooth Snake, Coronella brachyura (Günther, 1866)

—The Indian Smooth Snake Coronella brachyura is one of the least studied endemic species of snake from India with regard to distribution, taxonomy, and natural history. In the present study, we verified literature, museum specimens and distributional records which enabled us to correct erroneous reports and map the distribution of this species. Additionally, we provide information on taxonomy, morphology, microhabitat, and behavior of the species based on three live specimens and voucher specimens in the collection of the Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai.
Staff Relationship Strategies and School Effectiveness in Public Secondary Schools: Depicting Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examines the influence of staff relationship strategies adopted by school principals and their effectiveness in Kwara State Public Secondary Schools (KSPSS). The study population comprises principals and teachers from the 64 public secondary schools in Ilorin metropolis, where 20 were selected randomly. From each of the 20 schools, ten teachers were selected randomly using a convenience sampling method while the school principal and a vice principal in each sampled school were purposively selected. Questionnaires were used to obtain data from 240 respondents. The descriptive statistics technique was used to answer the research question while the hypotheses which were formulated were tested using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation. The result shows a high level of school effectiveness in Ilorin metropolis’ public secondary schools. Furthermore, the four hypotheses tested showed strong positive relationships between: communication and quality leadership, shared goals and school discipline, motivation and staff satisfaction, and career development or work balance and student academic performance. It was concluded that public secondary schools in Ilorin metropolis are effective and that a strong relationship exists between staff relationship strategies and school effectiveness. The study recommends that schools should improve on their organised environment to increase its contributions to school effectiveness.
Influence of multifluorophenyloxy terminus on the mesomorphism of the alkoxy and alkyl cyanobiphenyl compounds in search of new ambient nematic liquid crystals and mixtures

ABSTRACT A series of cyanobiphenyl (CB) and cyano-p-terphenyl (CT) derivatives containing a variety of highly fluorinated aryloxyl termini and different connecting bridges were efficiently synthesized via aromatic nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) and their mesogenic properties described. Comparison with the non-fluorinated analogues indicates that the terminal multifluoroaryloxy group generally decreases the crystal to nematic phase transistion temperature and enhances the supercooling of these mesogens. Furthermore, several binary LC mixtures formed by the multifluoroaryloxy tail-terminated compounds were found exhibiting promising wide room temperature nematic phases ranges comparable to the commercial quaternary mixture E7. Our binding free energy (GBE) calculations predict that the fluorinated aryloxy terminated molecules tend to assume homeotropic orientation on Al(ClO4)3 and Ni(ClO4)2 metal salt decorated surfaces, which is consistent with the observed anchoring behavior. As such, these materials are promising candidates for chemoresponsive sensor devices which display a rapid response to a variety of analytes. Graphical Abstract
Stand recovery of a temperate hardwood forest 60 years after a stand-replacing windthrow based on a permanent plot study

ABSTRACT We examined the dynamics of stand structure and composition over a 60-year period in two permanent plots in a deciduous hardwood forest in Hokkaido, Japan, which were severely disturbed by a stand-replacing windthrow, to reveal trends that could be valuable to the development of a model of forest recovery after a severe windthrow. We analyzed temporal trends in tree density, species richness and diversity, successional composition, and stand development stage in the plots. Both plots recovered as hardwood stands. Tree density and species richness increased, peaking 35‒40 years after the windthrow, and then decreased in both plots. Based on these results, we concluded that both plots were in the stand-initiation stage for 35‒40 years after the windthrow and then transitioned into the stem-exclusion stage. Species diversity increased with an increase in species richness during the stand-initiation stage and then decreased slightly in both plots. In both plots, successional composition did not fluctuate greatly in the 60 years after the windthrow, and both returned to pre-disturbance composition during the stem-exclusion stage. The temporal trends observed in this study were remarkably similar to those in a previous study of permanent plots located near the plots used in this study. Therefore, this study provides valuable information that can be useful in the development of a stand recovery model in temperate forests after stand-replacing windthrows.
No evidence for differential sociosexual behavior and space use in the color morphs of the European common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Abstract Explaining the evolutionary origin and maintenance of color polymorphisms is a major challenge in evolutionary biology. Such polymorphisms are commonly thought to reflect the existence of alternative behavioral or life‐history strategies under negative frequency‐dependent selection. The European common wall lizard Podarcis muralis exhibits a striking ventral color polymorphism that has been intensely studied and is often assumed to reflect alternative reproductive strategies, similar to the iconic “rock–paper–scissors” system described in the North American lizard Uta stansburiana. However, available studies so far have ignored central aspects in the behavioral ecology of this species that are crucial to assess the existence of alternative reproductive strategies. Here, we try to fill this gap by studying the social behavior, space use, and reproductive performance of lizards showing different color morphs, both in a free‐ranging population from the eastern Pyrenees and in ten experimental mesocosm enclosures. In the natural population, we found no differences between morphs in site fidelity, space use, or male–female spatial overlap. Likewise, color morph was irrelevant to sociosexual behavior, space use, and reproductive success within experimental enclosures. Our results contradict the commonly held hypothesis that P. muralis morphs reflect alternative behavioral strategies, and suggest that we should instead turn our attention to alternative functional explanations.
Research on the Adoption of Mobile Hotel Reservation Based on TTF and UTAUT

It is of great significance for the promotion and popularization of tourism e-commerce to study the factors influencing the adoption of mobile hotel reservation. From the perspective of user experience, taking TTF and UTAUT as the theoretical framework, four external variables including situational awareness, user experience, perceived risk and perceived cost are added to build a mobile hotel reservation adoption model. Based on the fact that senior college students have more travel needs, this paper takes college students as an example to make an empirical analysis. The results show that: task technology matching, situational awareness, effort expectation and performance expectation have a significant impact on user experience, and then affect user behavior intention; social impact, perceived risk and perceived cost also have a significant impact on user behavior intention, among which social impact has the strongest impact on college students' mobile hotel reservation intention. Combined with the analysis of empirical results, some suggestions are put forward for the development and operation promotion of mobile hotel reservation application.
Country Evaluation for China’s Hydropower Investment in the Belt and Road Initiative Nations

With the implementation of China’s “Going Out” strategy and “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) as well as the shortage of domestic hydropower market, the scale of hydropower investment along BRI by Chinese companies has expanded rapidly. However, these countries have great differences in politics, laws, economy, hydropower potential, social development and environmental constraints. Due to the inappropriate choice of countries for investment, many failure cases have also occurred. To specifically evaluate hydropower investment in these countries, this paper proposed a six-dimensional indicator system which can represents the characteristics of hydropower investment along BRI based on the analysis of the typical cases of overseas investment by Chinese enterprises. Furthermore, a fuzzy optimal model based on the Delphi-Entropy weight was constructed to evaluate the hydropower investment of 65 countries along BRI as well as a list of countries and corresponding investment grades are proposed. The result indicates that politics and hydropower industry factors are the key determinants of choosing the countries for conducting investment while legal, economic, social and environmental factors should also be covered. In conclusion, the optimal choices for China’s hydropower investment along BRI are Russia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Indonesia and the strategy has been given accordingly. Moreover the policy recommendations from the perspective of nation and enterprise level have also been proposed.
Characterizing Cystoisospora canis as a Model of Apicomplexan Tissue Cyst Formation and Reactivation

Cystoisospora canis is an Apicomplexan parasite of the small intestine of dogs. C. canis produces monozoic tissue cysts (MZT) that are similar to the polyzoic tissue cysts (PZT) of Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite of medical and veterinary importance, which can reactivate and cause toxoplasmic encephalitis. We hypothesized that C. canis is similar biologically and genetically enough to T. gondii to be a novel model for studying tissue cyst biology. We examined the pathogenesis of C. canis in beagles and quantified the oocysts shed. We found this isolate had similar infection patterns to other C. canis isolates studied. We were able to superinfect beagles that came with natural infections of Cystoisospora ohioensis-like oocysts indicating that little protection against C. canis infection occurred in these beagles. The C. canis oocysts collected were purified and used for future studies. We demonstrated in vitro that C. canis could infect 8 mammalian cell lines and produce MZT. The MZT were able to persist in cell culture for at least 60 days. We were able to induce reactivation of MZT treated with bile-trypsin solution. In molecular studies, we characterized C. canis genetically using ITS1 and CO1 to build phylogenetic trees and found C. canis was most similar to C. ohioensis-like with ITS1 and more similar to T. gondii than any other coccidia using ITS1 and CO1. We identified genes and proteins involved with virulence, cyst wall structure, and immune evasion of T. gondii and examined the DNA of C. canis for orthologs. C. canis had orthologs with 8 of 20 T. gondii genes examined. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibody and lectin studies demonstrated similar tissue cyst wall proteins on C. canis MZT and T. gondii PZT. Our findings in vitro and using genetic characterization of C. canis