Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Large Scale DNS Traffic Analysis of Malicious Internet Activity with a Focus on Evaluating the Response Time of Blocking Phishing Sites

This thesis explores four research areas that are examined using DNS traffic analysis. The tools used for this analysis are presented first. The four topics examined are domain mapping, response time of anti-phishing block lists to find the phishing sites, automated identification of malicious fast-flux hosting domains, and identification of distributed denial of service attacks. The first three approaches yielded successful results, and the fourth yields primarily negative lessons for using DNS traffic analysis in such a scenario. Much of the analysis concerns the anti-phishing response time, which has yielded tentative results. It is found that there is significant overlap between the automatically identified fast-flux sites and those sites on the block list. It appears that domains were being put onto the list approximately 11 hours after becoming active, in the median case, which is very nearly the median lifetime of a phishing site. More recently collected data indicates that this result is extremely difficult to verify. While further work is necessary to verify these claims, the initial indication is that finding and listing phishing sites is the bottleneck in propagating data to protect consumers from malicious phishing sites.
Integrating Creative Problem Solving And Engineering Design

“Engineering design is the communication of a set of rational decisions obtained with creative problem solving for accomplishing certain stated objectives within prescribed constraints. ” How can engineering design be taught within the framework of this definition—what are the goals and building blocks? An innovative textbook demonstrates an integrated approach usable at the freshman and senior levels and for multi-level, mutidisciplinary projects. The textbook will be published by mid-June through McGraw-Hill’s College Custom Series. The paper will describe the approach and discuss experiences with different parts of the course content. By conference time, additional feedback from senior projects in technology will be available. The integrated approach has a double focus: • Develop the required thinking skills: visualization, cognitive models, communication, teamwork, and creative problem solving. Industry as well as the ABET 2000 Criteria demand that engineers have these foundational skills. • Apply the skills in the twelve steps to quality by design. The textbook provides many practical “how to” guidelines, planning and economic analysis tool templates (attached on a CD-ROM), and a library of design documentation samples to enable instructors and students to focus on optimizing their design projects and solutions and prevent dysfunctional teams. A teaching manual accompanies the textbook and will be available from a web site. It includes sample syllabi for a variety of courses from pre-college programs and freshman engineering orientation to senior capstone design and workshops to enhance creativity and innovation in the workplace. This broad range is possible by shifting the emphasis from learning the process of creative problem solving to achieving a quality design product. Also, the textbook is built on the knowledge creation cycle and thus addresses different thinking preferences and learning styles. Formats range from 15-hour course modules or seminars to quarter or semester courses or sequences.
Benchmark and validation of Open Source CFD codes, with focus on compressible and rotating capabilities, for integration on the SimScale platform.

The use of CFD is widely spread in industry today. However, smaller business have difficulty to make use of this tool, due to high costs for commercial licenses and hardware. As SimScale provides the combination of cloud computing with open source CFD software, the prerequisites to use CFD are lowered. To provide more diverse solvers for the platform, different CFD software are integrated onto the platform. As OpenFOAM was the sole CFD software on the platform at the start of this thesis, two other open source software were researched and compared to OpenFOAM. OpenFOAM was compared to Gerris and SU2 in three different validation cases. OpenFOAM and Gerris rotating body capabilities are investigated in an analytical solvable case of laminar Taylor-Couette ow. Two different approaches were used in OpenFOAM, where AMI (Adaptive Mesh Interface) and MRF (Multiple Reference Frame) were used to solve the problem. OpenFOAM and SU2's turbulent capabilities are compared using a turbulent at plate case from Wieghardt [1]. Compressible transonic ow over a RAE2822 airfoil was set up for OpenFOAM and SU2. The results were compared to data from NASA [2] It was found that the rotating body capabilities (MRF and AMI) of OpenFOAM were suitable for integration onto the SimScale platform. Gerris as a software was deemed to be easy to work with, but would require a new work ow on the platform to be integrated. SU2 was integrated onto the platform during this thesis work, but was deemed to still su er from some early development issues as its first release was done in January 2013.
Development of an integrated pest management strategy for the control of Maruca vitrata on cowpea in Kebbi state of Nigeria

The study was undertaken with the objective of developing an IPM control strategy against M. vitrata in cowpea which will replace the existing use of calendar based application of broad spectrum chemical insecticide (Mixture of 30g cypermethrin and 250g dimethoate) in Kebbi State of Nigeria. The study initially made use of a survey backed up by focus group interviews to gather information on the types of farmers’ cowpea cultivation practices, their perceptions on pests and pesticides and the economics of cowpea cultivation with the aim of incorporating those practices that were found to be IPM compatible in the strategy developed. The result showed that most farmers were small scale growers who inappropriately used chemical insecticides due to lack of knowledge of other alternatives. Farmers had good scouting ability as demonstrated by their knowledge of field insect pests of cowpea, the nature of their feeding habit and magnitude of damage due to these insect pests. Cowpea cultivation in Zuru is profitable, labour and insecticides costs were the major profit limiting factors in cowpea cultivation. Therefore, an on-station trial was conducted which initially focused on the evaluation of four potential IPM components for their suitability as control tools against M. vitrata using two cowpea varieties [Danzafi (local) and improved Kanannado (IT89KD-245-1)]. The result showed that neem (nke) at 5% concentration was as effective as chemical insecticide (mixture of cypermethrin and dimethoate) in terms of reducing larval infestation/damage, pods and seeds damage as well as increasing yield of cowpea. In the next season another on-station trial was conducted to validate use of nke on scouting basis as an IPM system for the management of M. vitrata using the same cowpea varieties. The result showed that, the scouting based nke application had significantly higher larval infestation/damage which significantly lowered yield in comparison with the calendar based insecticide application. However,; the highest cost benefit ratio was sustained by the scouting based nke application. During the third season on-farm trial, although nke on scouting based application had significantly higher larval infestation/damage compared to calendar based chemical insecticide application yield was similar, indicating that it was not affected. The application of nke on scouting basis did not affect the abundance of the natural enemies. It was therefore concluded that nke application on scouting basis has the potential as an IPM control strategy against M. vitrata in cowpea.
Arquitectura, Industria y Sostenibilidad

Spain’s recent growth model, much too tightly bound to opportunistic property development, is unquestionably the least sustainable in Europe. The rise in the rate of the country’s historically high energy dependence, which at no time in the last decade dipped below 80%, stands as proof of such unsustainability. The need to build housing with new, built-in passive strategies and active techniques geared to savings, effi ciency and enhanced domestic comfort, and the growing complexity of the associated solutions, are factors that indisputably transcend the limits of traditional housing design and construction. That fast declining model has merely replaced skilled labour, a legacy of former structures organized around trades, with the willing but unskilled labour of immigrant workers. In this new context, energy effi ciency will surely be the key concept that will open the gates to renovated industrialization: savings and effi ciency from the outset through controlled design and manufacturing; worksite effi ciencies and the savings deriving from speedier construction; savings and effi ciency during the building’s service life as a result of the technology deployed; and even savings and effi ciency when the building is no longer usable, preparing it for a "good death": recycling. All the foregoing are undoubtedly parameters of considerable signifi cance in the new sustainability paradigm. Open product catalogues will be needed to recover industry for architecture. In view of the paucity of such catalogues, however, the few that do exist must be modifi ed or "tuned" as a fi rst step toward instituting sound and general industrialization.
Wireless Security Essentials: Defending Mobile Systems from Data Piracy

From the Publisher: Protect your wireless systems from attack with this clear-cut guide on how to implement proven security methodologies Effective security is the most important element now missing from most wireless networks. Vulnerabilities in these networks leave them open to eavesdropping, session highjacking, data alteration and manipulation, and an overall lack of privacy. This comprehensive book clearly shows you how to identify these vulnerabilities and protect yourself against them by building security into the network infrastructure and connected devices. Drawing on the latest research in the field, Vines offers a thorough examination of the fundamental concepts of security and basic computing technology. He first provides you with the necessary background on wireless and cellular technologies, looking at the various ways in which they are implemented. You'll then learn about a wide range of security methodologies and find out how to apply them to the wireless world. Finally, you'll confront the security challenges with wireless systems and discover all of the options available to protect your information. A complete guide to current wireless technologies and standards, security risks, and proven security solutions, Wireless Security Essentials explores: Wireless data networking technologies and the wireless application protocol Wireless standards and technologies Cryptographic technologies and PKI Threats to personal electronic devices like Palm Wireless Handhelds, PocketPCs, Internet-enabled cell phones, and BlackBerrys WAP security Security monitoring and testing Hardware and software solutions Author Biography: Russell Dean Vines is founder and President of The RDV Group Inc., a New York Citybased security consulting services firm. His company is active in detecting, preventing, and solving security vulnerabilities for clients in government, finance, and new media organizations. Vines is also a frequent speaker on security issues and coauthor of the bestselling book The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security.
Experiences of age-related declining navigation abilities and impact on use of outdoor environments: A qualitative study of older adults with self-reported memory difficulties

Laboratory-based experiments show ageing negatively impacts navigation abilities, yet a paucity of research explores lived experience. This exploratory study examined older people with self-reported memory difficulties experiences of declining navigation abilities during sixteen semi-structured telephone interviews. Findings reveal: (i) ‘Behavioural drivers’ that underpinned the participants’ experiences and actions when engaging with their environments (ii) ‘Avoidance’ and (iii) ‘Active’ strategies that were adopted by the participants. Declining cognitive function appeared to have a negative impact on participants perceived abilities and confidence to navigate unfamiliar outdoor environments, which in turn influenced the strategies they chose to adopt. Future psychosocial interventions should draw on neuropsychological theory to ensure retention of navigation skills and confidence for as long as possible.
Conformal tracking for virtual environments

Marker-based tracking is a technique which employs fiduciary marks to determine the pose of a tracked object. A collection of markers arranged in a rigid configuration is called a tracking probe. We present a pioneer framework for designing conformal tracking probes. Conformal in this work means to adapt to the shape of the tracked objects and to the environmental constraints. As part of the framework, the accuracy in position and orientation of a given probe may be predicted given the system noise. The framework is a methodology for designing tracking probes based upon performance goals and environmental constraints. After presenting the conformal tracking framework, the elements used for completing the steps of the framework are discussed. We start with the application of optimization methods for determining the probe geometry. Two overall methods for mapping markers on tracking probes are presented, the Intermediary Algorithm and the Viewpoints Algorithm. Next, we examine the method used for pose estimation and present a mathematical model of error propagation used for predicting probe performance in pose estimation. The model uses a first-order error propagation, perturbing the simulated marker locations with Gaussian noise. The marker locations with error are then traced through the pose estimation process and the effects of the noise are analyzed. Moreover, the effects of changing the probe size or the number of markers are discussed. Finally, the conformal tracking framework is validated experimentally. The assessment methods are divided into simulation and post-fabrication methods. Under simulation, we discuss testing of the performance of each probe design. Then, post-fabrication assessment is performed, including accuracy measurements in orientation and position. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Design and Evaluation of Dual Band MIMO Antennas

The characteristics of the unbalanced fed ultra low profile inverted L (ULPIL) antenna are compared with those of the base fed inverted F (BFIF) antenna. The mechanisms of impedance matching of two antennas are discussed. In the BFIF antenna, the short-circuited stub is connected in parallel with the base fed inverted L antenna. In the ULPIL antenna, the shortcircuited stub seen to the base and the open-circuited stub seen to the antenna end are connected in series at the feed point. The input impedance of base fed inverted L antenna is compensated with two stubs. This means that the ULPIL antenna is the transmission line type antenna with a built-in automatic tuning circuit. Keywords—low profile antenna; inverted L antenna; unbalanced feed; tuning circuit
Information communication technology tools for software review and verification

While information communication technology (ICT) can be considered a well-established discipline, software development projects are still prone to failure. Even if a software project is not classified as a failure, the general level of software quality leaves room for much improvement. It has been suggested that one of the most prevalent and costly mistakes made in software projects today is deferring the activity of detecting and correcting software problems until the end of the project. Hence, the cost of rework in the later stages of a project can be greater than 100 times the project costs. About 80% of avoidable rework comes from 20% of defects. As a result, techniques such as software review for improving software quality are important.
EMBANKMENT WIDENING WITH THE GAP-METHOD

The performance of the so-called gap-method for road widening on soft soil has been studied in the test sections along Dutch highway A2. The gap-method is a two-stage fill operation, aiming at the reduction of damage to the existing road. Measurements did not reveal a permanent positive effect of the gap-method as compared to the standard one-stage fill method. The test sections were modeled in finite-element calculations using Mohr-Coulomb and cap type constitutive relations for the soft soil. The predictive power of the calculations appeared to be limited, the Mohr-Coulomb model giving the best fit to measurements.
Estimation of LOS Rates for Target Tracking Problems using EKF and UKF Algorithms- a Comparative Study

One of the most important problem in target tracking is Line Of Sight (LOS) rate estimation for using from PN (proportional navigation) guidance law. This paper deals on estimation of position and LOS rates of target with respect to the pursuer from available noisy RF seeker and tracker measurements. Due to many important for exact estimation on tracking problems must target position and Line Of Sight rates estimated with least error rather than actual values. In this paper extended Kalman filter (EKF) and unscented Kalman filter (UKF) algorithms are used for estimation of target position in three-dimensional (3-D) and LOS rates in elevation and azimuth for seekers and trackers. For comparison of algorithms, model of the system simulated using MATLAB and many tests were carried out. Simulation experiments show that the efficiency of EKF due to least RMSE has better performance. However, the performance of EKF algorithm has been dramatically decreased when initializations (initial state assumption) are not near to real values, which in this condition UKF method provides a more accurate approximation. Numerical results from simulations show that the UKF is robust against uncertainties and has better state estimation accuracy. Therefore, UKF algorithm is appropriate, and it can run on target tracking systems. doi: 10.5829/idosi.ije. 2015.28. 02b.02
Modelling e-commerce customer reactions. Exploring online shopping carnivals in China

Abstract This research investigates customer reactions by exploring satisfaction(SAT), complaints(CC) and loyalty(CL) in an online shopping carnival(OSC) context in China. Expanding the American Customer Satisfaction Index(ACSI) model by including e-commerce corporate image(ECCI) next to customer expectations(CE), perceived quality(PQ), perceived value(PV), SAT was determined, while CC and CL were estimated based on SAT. For estimating CL, ECCI was added. 300 valid questionnaires were collected from Chinese shoppers with OSC experience. The research hypotheses were tested through Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling. The results prompt five key paths influencing SAT and CL. No significant impact on and of CC was identified. ECCI significantly impacted on CC, SAT and CL. This study provides in the context of OSCs a new research perspective of customer reactions, centred on satisfaction, emphasising the role of image on expectations, satisfaction and loyalty, and incorporating customer complaints to quantify negative aspects of shopping experience in determining customer loyalty. E-commerce companies should deliver unforgettable customer experience through building a long-lasting image, offering consistent quality and delivering clearly-delineated value, as antecedents of satisfaction and loyalty. The model can be further expanded by exploring the consequences of customer loyalty on potential buying behaviour, focusing on purchasing intention and recommendations.
EU Data Protection Legislation and Case-Law with Regard to Biometric Applications

Biometric applications are increasingly used to provide enhanced security in verification and identification procedures. However, privacy concerns are raised from the processing of biometric features, which are deemed as personal data and in certain circumstances, as sensitive personal data. Their processing may infringe the privacy of the individual, as it provides more potential for control of the individual. Data Protection Authorities in the EU Member States have issued various decisions, prohibiting biometric applications in some occasions. Their decisions, however, lack consistency and are contradictory. Therefore, it should be examined if the legal review of biometric applications should be based on the application of existing legislation on data protection and particularly of the proportionality principle, or whether specific legal provisions should be introduced. It is stressed out that discrimination exists as regards biometric applications in the private sector and those in the public sector, since biometry has been introduced in passports and plans exist to introduce them also in identity cards. The processing of biometric data is regulated in some EU Member States data protection acts, which provide for the principles of proportionality and/or prior notification to the supervisory authority, while other laws define biometric data as sensitive data and thus, grant enhanced protection to data subjects.
Structural vulnerability analysis of electric power networks

Disturbances in the supply of electric power can have serious implications for everyday life as well as for national (homeland) security. A power outage can be initiated by natural disasters, adverse weather, technical failures, human errors, sabotage, terrorism, and acts of war. The vulnerability of a system is described as a sensitivity to threats and hazards, and is measured by P (Q(t) > q), i.e. the probability of at least one disturbance with negative societal consequences Q larger than some critical value q, during a given period of time (0,t]. The aim of the thesis is to present methods for quantitative vulnerability analysis of electric power delivery networks to enable effective strategies for prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery to be developed. Paper I provides a framework for vulnerability assessment of infrastructure systems. The paper discusses concepts and perspectives for developing a methodology for vulnerability analysis, and gives examples related to power systems. Paper II analyzes the vulnerability of power delivery systems by means of statistical analysis of Swedish disturbance data. It is demonstrated that the size of large disturbances follows a power law, and that the occurrence of disturbances can be modeled as a Poisson process. Paper III models electric power delivery systems as graphs. Statistical measures for characterizing the structure of two empirical transmission systems are calculated, and a structural vulnerability analysis is performed, i.e. a study of the connectivity of the graph when vertices and edges are disabled. Paper IV discusses the origin of power laws in complex systems in terms of their structure and the dynamics of disturbance propagation. A branching process is used to model the structure of a power distribution system, and it is shown that the disturbance size in this analytical network model follows a power law. Paper V shows how the interaction between an antagonist and the defender of a power system can be modeled as a game. A numerical example is presented, and it is studied if there exists a dominant defense strategy, and if there is an optimal allocation of resources between protection of components, and recovery.