Verifying and Monitoring IoTs Network Behavior using MUD Profiles

IoT devices are increasingly being implicated in cyber-attacks, raising community concern about the risks they pose to critical infrastructure, corporations, and citizens. In order to reduce this risk, the IETF is pushing IoT vendors to develop formal specifications of the intended purpose of their IoT devices, in the form of a Manufacturer Usage Description (MUD), so that their network behavior in any operating environment can be locked down and verified rigorously. This paper aims to assist IoT manufacturers in developing and verifying MUD profiles, while also helping adopters of these devices to ensure they are compatible with their organizational policies and track devices network behavior based on their MUD profile. Our first contribution is to develop a tool that takes the traffic trace of an arbitrary IoT device as input and automatically generates the MUD profile for it. We contribute our tool as open source, apply it to 28 consumer IoT devices, and highlight insights and challenges encountered in the process. Our second contribution is to apply a formal semantic framework that not only validates a given MUD profile for consistency, but also checks its compatibility with a given organizational policy. We apply our framework to representative organizations and selected devices, to demonstrate how MUD can reduce the effort needed for IoT acceptance testing. Finally, we show how operators can dynamically identify IoT devices using known MUD profiles and monitor their behavioral changes on their network.Comment: 17 pages, 17 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1804.0435

Embracing diversity through education: Exploring flipped micro-modules as a pathway to transforming the future for international students

Explore an innovative initiative that focuses on developing inclusive pedagogies for international students with diverse backgrounds. The presentation introduces the transformative concept of flipped micro-modules, integrating pre-class mini-lessons through the interactive e-learning tool "Evolve" with in-class peer-led discussions, primarily for international postgraduate students. This initiative places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, offering user-friendly, accessible, and interactive content. The study assesses the effectiveness of these modules through a three-stage process and sheds light on their positive impact, providing insights that can reshape education, enhance teaching methods, and create a more diverse and inclusive learning environment, encouraging forward-thinking in the field of education

Agent-based autonomous systems and abstraction engines: Theory meets practice

We report on experiences in the development of hybrid autonomous systems where high-level decisions are made by a rational agent. This rational agent interacts with other sub-systems via an abstraction engine. We describe three systems we have developed using the EASS BDI agent programming language and framework which supports this architecture. As a result of these experiences we recommend changes to the theoretical operational semantics that underpins the EASS framework and present a fourth implementation using the new semantics

No effect of monthly supplementation with 12000 IU, 24000 IU or 48000 IU vitamin D3 for one year on muscle function: The vitamin D in older people study

Vitamin D plays a role in muscle function through genomic and non-genomic processes. The objective of this RCT was to determine the effect of monthly supplemental vitamin D3 onmuscle function in 70+ years old adults. Participants (n = 379) were randomized to receive, 12000 IU, 24000 IU or 48000 IU of vitamin D3 monthly for 12 months. Standardized Hand Grip Strength (GS) and Timed-Up and Go (TUG) were measured before and after vitamin D3 supplementation. Fasting total plasma 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) concentrations were measured by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MSMS) and immunoassay, respectively. Baseline plasma 25OHD concentrations were 41.3 (SD 19.9), 39.5 (SD 20.6), 38.9 (SD 19.7) nmol/L; GS values were 28.5 (SD 13.4), 28.8 (SD 13.0) and 28.1 (SD 12.1) kg and TUG test values were 10.8 (SD 2.5), 11.6 (SD 2.9) and 11.9 (SD 3.6) s for the 12000 IU, 24000 IU and 48000 IU dose groups, respectively. Baseline plasma 25OHD concentration < 25 nmol/L was associated with lower GS (P = 0.003). Post-interventional plasma 25OHD concentrations increased to 55.9 (SD 15.6), 64.6 (SD15.3) and 79.0 (SD 15.1) nmol/L in the 12000 IU, 24000 IU and 48000 IU dose groups, respectively and there was a significant dose-related response in post-interventional plasma 25OHD concentration (p<0.0001). Post-interventional GS values were 24.1 (SD 10.1), 26.2 (SD10.6) and 25.7 (SD 9.4) kg and TUG test values were 11.5 (SD 2.6), 12.0 (SD 3.7) and 11.9 (SD 3.2) s for 12000 IU, 24000 IU and 48000 IU dose groups, respectively. The change (Δ) in GS and TUG from pre to post-intervention was not different between treatment groups before and after the adjustment for confounders, suggesting no effect of the intervention. Plasma 25OHD concentration was not associated with GS and TUG test after supplementation. In conclusion, plasma 25OHD concentration < 25 nmol/L was associated with lower GS at baseline. However, monthly vitamin D3 supplementation with 12000 IU, 24000 IU and 48000 IU, for 12 months had no effect on muscle function in older adults aged 70+ years

Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis

Background Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis). Results Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent). Conclusion Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified

Cultivating Lifelong Learning: Empowering Engineering Education with Self-Directed Microlearning Strategies

Self-directed learning has emerged as an important tool for engineering students to foster lifelong learning. To facilitate this, various asynchronous online learning materials are provided via a Learning Management System (LMS). However, the engagement of students, particularly postgraduate students from international backgrounds with limited self-directed learning experience, remains a challenge. To address this issue, a shift in the instructional approach was necessary and the integration of microlearning as a transformative approach emerged as a promising solution. Leveraging Microsoft Sway and Edpuzzle interactive videos, coupled with the BOPPPS framework, the study meticulously constructs self-directed learning activities that can be completed within a concise 30-minute window. The enhancement of student engagement during the microlearning self-directed activities was achieved through the integration of several strategic approaches. The incorporation of real-world applications, case studies, and current affairs bridges the gap between theoretical content and practical relevance, while knowledge check questions gauge engagement and understanding. The synchronization of pre- and post-assessment tasks within each lesson contributed to a cohesive learning experience. Furthermore, gamification strategies combined with exploratory questions inspired learners to become engaged. The outcome is a remarkable 94% increase in student participation, validated by their positive feedback affirming the alignment of activities with their learning goals. Nevertheless, integrating microlearning while ensuring consistent quality delivery across various microlearning activities is challenging. Because content fragmentation and contextual shortcomings may impede in-depth comprehension. To overcome these hurdles, contextualization, and scaffolding techniques, such as chunking, sequencing, and guided practice, are proposed. Furthermore, meticulous planning, assessment integration, and performance support mechanisms, including interactive simulations, quick reference guides and SCORM tools (ex: Evolve), offer comprehensive solutions for incorporating microlearning effectively across broader teaching practices to empower lifelong learning

Soft peaty clay stabilization in Sri Lanka: Sustainability through utilizing secondary raw materials

In situ deep mixing of soft peaty clay with a binder such as cement can improve strength and compressibility characteristics significantly in a short period of time. However, due to the higher cost and environmental impact of cement as the binder, reducing the cement content using secondary raw materials such as Calcium carbide residue (CCR) and Fly ash (FA) is needed and is focused on this study. Improvements in strength for various proportions of CCR, FA and cement were assessed by conducting unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests for short-term (28 days) and long-term (90 days) curing. Further, behaviour of compressibility was investigated by conducting loading, unloading, and preloading one-dimensional consolidation test on oedometer. Adding only cement has the best improvement while 10% CCR, 15% FA with 5% cement mixture showed the best results among alternative mixtures. The CCR fixation point was 30% and was independent from time. Further, having similar proportions for FA with CCR & cement mixtures provided better results. However, permitting pozzolanic reaction under an overburden stress can noticeably improve the strength & stiffness of peaty clay