Two Dimension Marginal Distributions of Crossing Time and Renewal Numbers Related to Two-Stage Erlang Processes

The two dimensional marginal transform, probability density and cumulative probability distribution functions for the random variables TξN (time taken by servers during vacations), ξN (number of vacations taken by servers) and Nη (number of customers or units arriving in the system) are derived by taking combinations of these random variables. One random variable is controlled at one time to determine the effect of the other two random variables simultaneously

Detection and prediction of insider threats to cyber security: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Cyber security is vital to the success of today’s digital economy. The major security threats are coming from within, as opposed to outside forces. Insider threat detection and prediction are important mitigation techniques. This study addresses the following research questions: 1) what are the research trends in insider threat detection and prediction nowadays? 2) What are the challenges associated with insider threat detection and prediction? 3) What are the best-to-date insider threat detection and prediction algorithms? We conduct a systematic review of 37 articles published in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and edited books for the period of 1950–2015 to address the first two questions. Our survey suggests that game theoretic approach (GTA) is a popular source of insider threat data; the insiders’ online activities are the most widely used features in insider threat detection and prediction; most of the papers use single point estimates of threat likelihood; and graph algorithms are the most widely used tools for detecting and predicting insider threats. The key challenges facing the insider threat detection and prediction system include unbounded patterns, uneven time lags between activities, data nonstationarity, individuality, collusion attacks, high false alarm rates, class imbalance problem, undetected insider attacks, uncertainty, and the large number of free parameters in the model. To identify the best-to-date insider threat detection and prediction algorithms, our meta-analysis study excludes theoretical papers proposing conceptual algorithms from the 37 selected papers resulting in the selection of 13 papers. We rank the insider threat detection and prediction algorithms presented in the 13 selected papers based on the theoretical merits and the transparency of information. To determine the significance of rank sums, we perform “the Friedman two-way analysis of variance by ranks” test and “multiple comparisons between groups or conditions” tests

Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors of Candidemia in Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction: During the past two decades, the incidence of candidemia has doubled and Candida spp. currently ranks in top blood stream pathogen in developed countries. Given the need to ensure appropriate and timely antifungal therapy, there is need to identify these patients as early as possible and therefore a risk stratification for candidemia is imperative. We aim to identify the risk factors of candidemia in patients admitted at our tertiary care center. Methods: A retrospective case control study were conducted on adult patients (15 years. or more) admitted to Aga Khan University Hospital between 2009 and 2013 who developed candidemia (cases)or bacteremia (controls) after 48 hours of admission. Results: A total of 300 patients were enrolled in study (150 cases i.e. candidemia and 150 control i.e. bacteremia). The gender frequency was identical for cases (n=56, 65% males) and controls (n= 55,64 % males). Mean age in year was also similar for cases (56± 17) and controls (55± 18, p = 0.5). Non albican candida spp. are predominantly isolated from blood cultures as compared to Candida albican. Patients who had invasive devices like central lines, urinary catheter, endotracheal tube, nasogastric tube especially central lines (Odd ratio 1.72, CI: 0.98-3.02) and patients who had candida colonization (OR8.50, C.I: 3.76-19.23) were more likely to have candidemia than bacteremia. Conclusion: Risk factors for candidemia include, the presence of invasive devices especially central lines and isolation of candida from other body sites were most predictive of candidemia. These results can be used to help identify patients most likely to benefit from empiric antifungal therapy

Spot urine protein: creatinine ratio versus 24 hour urine protein at various levels of GFR patients referred to a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of random single voided urine protein: creatinine ratio to twenty four hour urine protein at different levels of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Pakistani population. METHODS: A total of 107 patients were included in this cross section study. Patients were divided into five groups according to the GFR. Spot urine protein: creatinine ratio and 24 hour urine protein was measured by the standard methods. The correlation coefficient ( r) between the two was calculated in each group separately. RESULTS: The GFR in groups 1 to 5 was \u3e or =90, 60-89, 30-59, 15-29, and /minute/1.73 m2 respectively. In group one correlation coefficient r was 0.96, in group two r was 0.81, in group three r was 0.94, in group four r was 0.82 and in group five r was 0.80. CONCLUSION: Random single voided urine protein: creatinine ratio may be used as an alternative to 24 hour urine collection for protein at all levels of GFR in Pakistani population

Un análisis fenomenológico interpretativo de los desafíos a los que se enfrentan los profesores universitarios en Pakistán en medio del covid-19

This study aimed to analyze the challenges faced by the university teachers during the transition towards purely online-based classes due to Covid-19 outbreak in Pakistan. A qualitative research design was used by employing an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to capture the experience of university teachers. Interviews were conducted with the participants selected through snowball sampling technique. The findings showed that the university teachers in Pakistan had to cope up with many challenges. The specific factors such as infrastructural problems, student's behavioral issues and difficulties in the assessment of student's performance indicate that physical classrooms are a more effective mode of learning than the online mode of learning. Finally, this is among the first studies in addressing the online learning challenges faced by university teachers in Pakistan during Covid-19 outbreak.Este estudio tenía como objetivo analizar los desafíos a los que se enfrentan los profesores universitarios durante la transición hacia clases puramente en línea debido al brote de Covid-19 en Pakistán. Se utilizó un diseño de investigación cualitativa empleando un enfoque de análisis fenomenológico interpretativo para capturar la experiencia de los profesores universitarios. Se realizaron entrevistas con los participantes seleccionados a través de la técnica de muestreo de bolas de nieve. Y los resultados mostraron que los profesores universitarios en Pakistán tenían que hacer frente a muchos desafíos. Los factores específicos como los problemas de infraestructura, las dificultades de comportamiento de los estudiantes y las dificultades en la evaluación del rendimiento de los estudiantes indican que las aulas físicas son un modo de aprendizaje más eficaz que el modo de aprendizaje en línea. Finalmente, este es uno de los primeros estudios para abordar los desafíos de aprendizaje en línea que enfrentan los profesores universitarios en Pakistán durante el brote de Covid-19.Universidad Pablo de Olavid

Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Food Security Based on Food Security Index Analysis: A Case from Vaishali District, India

The paper has generated Food Security Index as a composite index of its three component indexes and analyzed spatio-temporal variation in food security at block level in Vaishali district of a backward state in India during 2000-03 and 2007-10. FSI identified not only the blocks requiring immediate attention but also the specific priority areas in which the efforts could be focused to attain long term sustainability of food security. The composite FSI using time series data could help in identifying the priority components and analyzing the progress of development interventions over a period of time aimed at sustainable food security

Encapsulated green magnetic nanoparticles for the removal of toxic Pb2+ and Cd2+ from water: Development, characterization and application

Current research is based on an innovative approach of the fabrication of encapsulated sustainable, green, phytogenic magnetic nanoparticles (PMNPs), to inhibit the generation of secondary pollutants (Iron/Fe degrees) during water treatment applications. These novel bio-magnetic membrane capsules (BMMCs) were prepared using twostep titration gel crosslink method, with polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate matrix as the model encapsulating materials to eliminate potentially toxic metals (Pb2+ and Cd2+) from water. The development of BMMCs was characterized by FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM, VSM, TGA and EDX techniques. The effects of various operating parameters, adsorbent dose, contact time, solution pH, temperature, initial concentration of metals cations and co-existing ions were studied. The hysteresis loops have illustrated an excellent super-paramagnetic nature, demonstrating the smooth encapsulation of PMNPs without losing their magnetic properties. The maximum monolayer adsorptive capacities estimated at pH 6.5 by the Langmuir isotherm model were 548 and 610.67 mg/g for Pb2+ and Cd2+, respectively. The novel BMMCs did not only control oxidation of PMNPs but also sustained the adsorptive removal over a wide range of pH (3-8), and the electrostatic interaction and ion-exchange were the core adsorption mechanisms. The BMMCs could easily be regenerated using 25% HNO3 as an eluent for successful usage in seven repeated cycles. Therefore, the BMMCs as a material can be used as an excellent sorbent or composite material to remove toxic metals Pb2+ and Cd2+, showing strong potential for improving water and wastewater treatment technologies