A comparative study between deep learning algorithm and bayesian network on Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attack detection

Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attacks are a major concern for the cybersecurity in digital world due to their advanced nature. Attackers are skilful to cause maximal destruction for targeted cyber environment. These APT attacks are also well funded by governments in many cases. The APT attacker can achieve his hostile goals by obtaining information and gaining financial benefits regarding the infrastructure of a network. It is highly important to study proper countermeasures to detect these attacks as early as possible due to sophisticated methods. It is difficult to detect this type of attack since the network may crash because of high traffic. Hence, in this study, this research is to study the comparison between Multilayer Perceptron and Naïve-Bayes of APT attack detection. Since the APT attack is persistent and permanent presence in the victim system, so minimal false positive rate (FPR) and high accuracy detection is required to detect the APT attack detection. Besides, Multilayer Perceptron algorithm has high true positive rate (TPR) in the detection of APT attack compared to Naïve Bayes algorithm. This means that Multilayer Perceptron algorithm can detect APT attack more accurately. Based on the result, it also can conclude that the lower the false positive rate (FPR), the more accurate to detect APT attack. Lastly, the research would also help to spread the awareness about the APT intrusion where it possibly can cause huge damage to everyone

Fabrication of Photovoltaic Cell From Rhenium Containing Polymer

Photovoltaic devices were fabricated using rhenium bis(arylimino) acenaphthene (DIAN) complex containing poly(p-phenylenevinylene). These polymers absorb strongly in the visible region at ca. 440-550 nm. In addition, this type of transition metal based polymers have been shown to exhibit large photo-sensitivity due to the presence of the rhenium complex, which has a relatively long-lived Metal-to-Ligand Charge Transfer (MLCT) character. By using this type of polymers, the metal content can be adjusted easily by simply changing the monomer feed ratio. Moreover, the excited state properties and electronic absorption properties can be modified by varying the structure of the diimine ligand coordinated to the metal. This approach allows us to fine-tune the absorption spectra of the polymers by employing different types of rhenium complex derivatives. PEDOT:PSS and PTCDI were used as the hole and electron transport layers, respectively. The ITO/PEDOT:PSS/DIAN-PPV/PTCDI/Al devices were found to exhibit photovoltaic response under the illumination of AMI solar radiation. The short-circuit current ISC, open-circuit voltage V OC, and the fill factor FF were measured to be 38 μA/cm 2, 0.93 V and 0.21 respectively. Another photovoltaic device was prepared with the structure ITO/PEDOT:PSS/DIAN-PPV:TiO2/PTCDI/Al and its photovoltaic properties were studied. The presence of TiO2 will assist the electron transport of the DIAN-PPV to the PTCDI, in which the electrons can be collected at the aluminium electrode. The short-circuit current ISC open-circuit voltage VOC, and the fill factor FF were measured to be 51 μA/cm2, 1.18 V and 0.12 respectively. It was observed that the power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic devices related closely to the rhenium content and the structure of the rhenium complex used.published_or_final_versio

Impacts of risk based capital regulation in Malaysian Islamic insurers (Takaful)

Risk Based Capital framework for Takaful operators (RBCT) is enforced by the Central Bank of Malaysia with the aim to ensure that Takaful operators have adequate capital to provide sound financial service. The objectives of this article is to examine the impacts of RBCT on efficiency, productivity and competitiveness level of Family Takaful Operators (FTO) and the relationship between efficiency and competitiveness in FTO in Malaysia. This study employs three methods namely Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) and Panzar Rosse (PR) to investigate the impacts of RBC on the efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of FTO in Malaysia. The efficiency results indicate that after RBCT comes into effect, the cost efficiency has achieved higher efficient level. Although the productivity efficiency are improving, the technological systems of FTO are yet to achieve a reasonable level. From competitiveness results, the FTO are less competitive prior the implementation of RBCT, but has become more competitive after the regulation of RBCT framework. Furthermore, the more efficient of a Takaful market, the more competitive the market is. The implication of this study is that regulators need to impose prudent risk based capital regulation because it will improve the efficiency and competitiveness of Islamic insurers

Preliminary work on coconut milk fouling deposits study

The characterizations of coconut milk fouling deposits formed during pasteurization process at temperature from 70 to 80ºC were investigated. Both in-situ (using lab-scale plate heat exchanger) and ex-situ methods (using shakable water bath) were applied in preparing the fouling sample and for cleaning study. A few microanalyses such as proximate analysis, texture analysis and microstructure analysis were carried out to examine the characteristics of the coconut milk fouling deposits. Selection of raw material and determination of the optimal process parameters for pasteurization process were done to obtain a typical pasteurization condition as applied in the coconut milk product industry in Malaysia. The changes of the overall heat transfer coefficient (U) during the process were studied. The removal/cleaning of coconut milk fouling deposit was also studied at 80°C, 2 LPM and with 2 %V/V hydroxide of alkaline solution (optimal condition obtained from ex-situ method). The results indicate that fouling period was occurred during coconut milk pasteurization and it caused a resistance to heat transfer. Coconut milk fouling deposit which contains of high fat content (29.25%) can be removed by applying single stage clean-in-place (CIP) method with alkaline solution. The factors causing fouling were studied

The 4CS in harm reduction programmes: a case of needle syringe exchange programme using total quality management / Sharifah Fadzlon Abdul Hamid … [et al.]

This paper intends to study the costs associated with harm reduction. Harm reduction is a way of dealing with behavior that damages the health of the persons involved and their community. Many individuals acquire these damaging behaviours (for example, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, practicing un-safe sex and drug abuse) are well aware of the adverse consequential effects on their health. Needle Syringe Exchange Programme (NSEP) is one such harm reduction programme recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization) to the Ministry of Health in Malaysia in 2005 and has produced encouraging results. Using the concept of Total Quality Management (TQM), the researchers identified and classified the costs involved in the harm reduction programme. The main principle of TQM with its emphasis on the cost of prevention is highly relevant in harm reduction programmes, which is similar to its emphasis on ‘prevention is better than cure’. Hence, this management accounting model which the researchers termed the 4Cs (currently in the process of being trademarked) is highly relevant and applicable in any harm reduction programme

Water-Energy Nexus Cascade Analysis (WENCA) for simultaneous water-energy system optimisation

This paper presents a new numerical method called the Water-Energy Nexus Cascade Analysis (WENCA), developed based on the principal of Pinch Analysis. Water and energy are both valuable resources that are majorly used in industrial processes. Both water and energy are interdependent where increasing water demand will increase the energy demand and vice versa. In this paper, WENCA is introduced to simultaneously optimise both water and energy system that is interdependent. The methodology applies Cascade Analysis to individually optimise both system. As both systems are interdependent, altering one of the system will result in a change to the other system. An iterative method is then introduced to converge the analysis to obtain the optimal result for both systems. A case study comprising of both electricity and water demand of 6,875 kWh and 3,000 m3 from a residential area with 1,000 unit of houses is applied in this work. The electricity demand is met using fuel cell where hydrogen is produced through coal gasification (which utilised water as it raw material), a water treatment plant (WTP) is also introduced for water treatment to fulfil the water demands. The optimal result reveals that the WTP capacity is 3,200.73 m3, its corresponding water storage tank capacity is 175 m3, hydrogen power plant is 9 MW and its corresponding energy storage capacity is 4.13 MW

Does efficiency promote competitiveness of the insurance industry?

This paper contributes to the existing literature by examining the efficiency and competitiveness of the Takaful insurance. We employ the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to compute the efficiency of Takaful operators, while Panzar-Rosse (P-R) H-statistic method is used to evaluate the degree of competition. The findings indicate that the inefficiency in Takaful’s operations is affected by the scale of operations but not by inefficiency in managerial practice. Actuaries need to pay attention to estimating provisions for outstanding claims, as this factor is negatively influencing the efficiency of Takaful insurance. Additionally, the managers are cautioned not to overspend on commissions paid to the agents because this will reduce the profit of the Takaful operators. The findings to a very large extent indicate that improvement in efficiency will increase the entry of a more viable competitor to participate in the Takaful industry. The regulators need to implement prudent monitoring of the operations of Takaful insurers because improvements in efficiency will make Takaful operators more competitive. The implications further shed light on the motivation for insurance firms to improve efficiency that enable them to charge lower price to enhance competition which may benefit both the firms and customers

Blood lipid profiles and peripheral blood mononuclear cell cholesterol metabolism gene expression in patients with and without methotrexate treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Methotrexate (MTX) is the most commonly prescribed disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) in rheumatoid arthritis. ATP-binding cassette transporter-A1 (ABCA1) and 27-Hydroxylase (HY27) are known antiatherogenic proteins that promote cellular cholesterol efflux. In THP-1 macrophages, MTX can promote the reversal of cholesterol transport, limit foam cell formation and also reverse COX-2 inhibitor-mediated downregulation of ABCA1. Despite its antiatherogenic potential <it>in vitro</it>, the impact of clinical use of low-dose MTX on cholesterol metabolism in humans is unknown. Objective of the study was to examine whether clinical MTX use is associated with altered blood lipids and/or <it>ABCA1/HY27 </it>expressions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In all, 100 rheumatoid arthritis subjects were recruited from a medical center in central Taiwan. Plasma lipid profiles and peripheral blood mononuclear cell <it>HY27 </it>and <it>ABCA1 </it>expressions were compared between subjects taking MTX (MTX+) and other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (MTX-). Dietary intake was assessed by a registered dietician.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Though no difference observed in the blood lipids between MTX+ and MTX- subjects, the expressions of <it>ABCA1 </it>and <it>HY27 </it>were significantly elevated in MTX+ subjects (n = 67) compared to MTX- subjects (n = 32, p < 0.05). ABCA expression correlated with MTX doses (r = 0.205, p = 0.042), and MTX+ subjects are more likely to have increased <it>HY27 </it>compared to MTX- subjects (OR = 2.5, p = 0.038). Prevalence of dyslipidemia and overweight, and dietary fat/cholesterol intake were lower than that of the age-matched population. Although no differences were observed in the blood lipids, the potential impacts of MTX on cholesterol metabolism should not be overlooked and the atheroprotective effects from MTX induced <it>HY27 </it>and <it>ABCA1 </it>expressions may still be present in those persons with pre-existing dyslipidemia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrated novel findings on the increased gene expressions of atheroprotective protein <it>HY27 </it>and <it>ABCA1 </it>in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with clinical use of low-dose MTX. Whether MTX induced <it>HY27 </it>and <it>ABCA1 </it>expressions can protect against cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic inflammation through the facilitation of cholesterol export remains to be established. Further studies on the impacts of low-dose MTX on hypercholesterolemic patients are underway.</p

CCL2 recruits inflammatory monocytes to facilitate breast-tumour metastasis

Macrophages abundantly found in the tumor microenvironment enhance malignancy(1). At metastatic sites a distinct population of metastasis associated macrophages (MAMs) promote tumor cell extravasation, seeding and persistent growth(2). Our study has defined the origin of these macrophages by showing Gr1+ inflammatory monocytes (IMs) are preferentially recruited to pulmonary metastases but not primary mammary tumors, a process also found for human IMs in pulmonary metastases of human breast cancer cells. The recruitment of these CCR2 (receptor for chemokine CCL2) expressing IMs and subsequently MAMs and their interaction with metastasizing tumor cells is dependent on tumor and stromal synthesized CCL2 (FigS1). Inhibition of CCL2/CCR2 signaling using anti-CCL2 antibodies blocks IM recruitment and inhibits metastasis in vivo and prolongs the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Depletion of tumor cell-derived CCL2 also inhibits metastatic seeding. IMs promote tumor cell extravasation in a process that requires monocyte-derived VEGF. CCL2 expression and macrophage infiltration are correlated with poor prognosis and metastatic disease in human breast cancer (Fig S2)(3-6). Our data provides the mechanistic link between these two clinical associations and indicates new therapeutic targets for treating metastatic breast disease

Efficiency, firm-specific and corporate governance factors of the Takaful insurance

Purpose: Malaysia is recognised as an emerging country with a large Muslim population, making the Malaysian Takaful industry the largest Takaful market in the Southeast Asia region and, notably, one of the fastest growing markets globally. Malaysia is also the first country globally to implement a risk-based capital framework for Takaful. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that influence the efficiency level (cost efficiency and technical efficiency) of the Takaful industry and to examine the effects of Takaful insurance firms’ specific factors and corporate governance factors that influence the efficiency of Takaful insurance in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, the efficiency level of the Malaysian Takaful industry was examined between 2011 and 2015. The sample consisted of 11 family Takaful and 8 general Takaful operators. Two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used by first, conducting non-parametric frontier data envelopment analysis to obtain a DEA score for each operator. This was followed by panel regression with the DEA scores as the dependent variable and the insurance firms’ specific factors and corporate governance factors as the independent variables. Findings: The results of DEA indicate that Takaful operators in general have allocative inefficiency but family Takaful is more cost efficient than general Takaful. Results of panel data analysis reveal that corporate governance factors do influence the cost efficiency but find no evidence on the firm-specific factors towards the cost efficiency and technical efficiency on Takaful operators. Board size and the proportion of non-executive directors impose a negative and significant relationship with cost efficiency, while proportion of Muslim directors in the board is not significant. Research limitations/implications: This paper focused solely on Malaysia which uses strict regulations governing the Takaful insurance market. Due diligence was also performed to minimise any limitation in the paper. It is proposed that future studies should examine this issue in greater detail by incorporating more data from other Muslim countries. Practical implications: The findings of this paper have significant implications for policymakers to understand the efficiency condition in the Takaful market. Takaful operators should maintain a small board size with a higher proportion of executive directors, given they could improve the level of effective decision-making to enhance the cost efficiency. As corporate governance factors are significant, Takaful operators in Malaysia should also undertake transparent disclosure practice and reporting such as providing adequate and relevant information related to Shariah compliance and principles to provide a robust foundation as the Takaful market leader regarding Takaful regulations globally. Social implications: The consumer is able to make a better decision when choosing Takaful insurance company to protect their interests. Originality/value: No similar paper has been undertaken to the best of the researcher’s knowledge using similar research design and scope to investigate the efficiency of Takaful insurance as in this paper. Takaful insurance is a rapidly growing industry in Malaysia, setting a prime example to other countries globally. Malaysia was selected for this study, as it is the only nation that has implemented the most extreme regulation in the Takaful insurance market