Transient Analysis of Analyte Desorption Due to Thermal Cycling with Varying Pulse Duration

This paper introduces heating pulse duration modulation on a chemically sensitive, polymer-coated resonant cantilever platform for analyte discrimination during the desorption phase. As in our previous work, the embedded heaters enable real-time measurements of analyte sorption into the polymer film, without the need for traditional valve systems and reference gases [1-2]. This work particularly looks at the effects of varying pulse lengths on the sensor responses, while holding the heating power constant. A model differential equation is developed for the sensor response based on both the device sensitivity and transient response. This model can then be used together with estimation theory for analyte identification and quantification, even in mixtures

An Investigation into the Wi-Fi protected setup pin of the Linksys WRT160N v2

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is a method of allowing a consumer to set up a secure wireless network in a user friendly way. However, in December 2011 it was discovered that a brute force attack exists that reduces the WPS key space from 108 to 104+103. This resulted in a proof of concept tool that was able to search all possible combinations of PINs within a few days.This research presents a methodology to test wireless devices to determine their susceptibility to the external registrar PIN authentication design vulnerability. A number of devices were audited, and the Linksys WRT160N v2 router was selected to be examined in detail. The results demonstrate that the router is highly susceptible to having its WPN PIN brute forced. It also details that even with WPS disabled in the router configuration, WPS was still active and the PIN was equally vulnerable

Determining What Characteristics Constitute a Darknet

Privacy on the Internet has always been a concern, but monitoring of content by both private corporations and Government departments has pushed people to search for ways to communicate over the Internet in a more secure manner. This has given rise to the creations of Darknets, which are networks that operate “inside” the Internet, and allow anonymous participation via a de‐centralised, encrypted, peer‐to‐peer network topology. This research investigates some sources of known Internet content monitoring, and how they provided the template for the creation of a system to avoid such surveillance. It then highlights how communications on the Clearnet is fundamentally different to that of a Darknet, and examines the characteristics that determine whether or not a network could be classified as a Darknet. Selection of said characteristics is based on how the network was developed, what its intended goals were, and how it implemented technical measures to meet said goals. Five characteristics were found that could be used to determine if a network is to be be classified as a Darknet

A Proposed Method for Examining Wireless Device Vulnerability to Brute Force Attacks via WPS External Registrar PIN Authentication Design Vulnerability

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is a certification scheme introduced in 2007 to ensure that wireless SOHO (Small Office, Home Office) and home networks could be connected to in a trusted, yet user friendly manner. Recently, WPS was shown to have a design and implementation flaw which makes the feature highly susceptible to attack. Although open-source tools have been written and released, no formal testing methodology has been developed. This research presents a proposed method for the testing of this vulnerability in a measured and systematic way

An Investigation into the Wi-Fi Protected Setup PIN of the Linksys WRT160N v2

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is a method of allowing a consumer to set up a secure wireless network in a user friendly way. However, in December 2011 it was discovered that a brute force attack exists that reduces the WPS key space from 108 to 104+103. This resulted in a proof of concept tool that was able to search all possible combinations of PINs within a few days.This research presents a methodology to test wireless devices to determine their susceptibility to the external registrar PIN authentication design vulnerability. A number of devices were audited, and the Linksys WRT160N v2 router was selected to be examined in detail. The results demonstrate that the router is highly susceptible to having its WPN PIN brute forced. It also details that even with WPS disabled in the router configuration, WPS was still active and the PIN was equally vulnerable

Coupled Evolution Equations for Immersions of Closed Manifolds and Vector Fields

A possible description of the elastic energy of a biological membrane is given by the L 2 -distance of its mean curvature from a spontaneous curvature plus a topological constant. Such energy functional is often referred to as Helfrich energy. We study a generalization of this model, where the spontaneous curvature arises as the divergence of a vector field along the surface. An abstract formulation for immersions of manifolds of arbitrary dimension is derived. For plane curves we prove for this energy functional the existence of global minimizers and regularity of stationary points subject to different constraints. The constraints we considered are the length and enclosed signed area of the curve and the range of the vector field. Furthermore, we derive a gradient-flow equation in the general situation of immersions of manifolds of arbitrary space dimension which leads to a coupled system of partial differential equations. For this coupled system we show local well-posedness even for a constraint preserving adaption of the flow. Moreover, we show a Łojasiewicz-Simon gradient inequality for the unrestricted functional as well as in the presence of constraints. From this we draw conclusions about the asymptotic behavior of the flow close to a local minimizer. For curves and vector fields in the euclidean plane we introduce a geometric quantity whose smallness guarantees smoothness of the flow. By a rescaling argument we achieve that even finiteness of this quantity suffices to exclude the formation of singularities

Strategies for Wildlife Disease Surveillance

Epidemiologic surveillance is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the ongoing systematic and continuous collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data\u27: The objective of surveillance is to generate data for rapid response to the detection of a disease of concern to apply prevention, control, or eradication measures as well as to evaluate such interventions. This is distinct from disease monitoring, which usually does not involve a particular response to disease detection. Surveillance for wildlife diseases has increased in importance due to the emergence and re-emergence of wildlife diseases that are threats to human, animal, and ecosystem health, or could potentially have a negative economic impact. It has been estimated that 75% of emerging human diseases are zoonotic in origin, of which the majority originate from wildlife (Taylor et al. 2001). However, there are unique challenges concerning wildlife disease surveillance such that disease and pathogens can be very difficult to detect and measure in wild animals. These challenges have been described previously (Wobeser 2006), but one of the primary issues is that disease in wildlife often goes unrecognized, especially in remote locations. Furthermore, sick and dead animals are very difficult to detect, as animals will disguise the signs of illness or hide when diseased. Carcasses from diseased animals are also rapidly removed by scavengers or will rapidly decompose, rendering them suboptimal for diagnostic purposes. There is also a lack of validated diagnostic tests for most wildlife disease agents as well as baseline data. The paucity of laboratory capacity with expertise in wildlife disease diagnostic investigation is also an impediment. Finally, surveillance networks for wildlife diseases that perform field investigations and report disease events are under-developed in most regions of the world. Despite these challenges, a number of very important epidemiological surveillance projects have been ongoing or recently developed, and some examples are described in this chapter. The examples are mostly drawn from the experiences of the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) and are provided to illustrate the different surveillance strategies and sampling techniques that can be used and have proven successful. Some future directions for wildlife disease surveillance are also suggested

Feedback and coaching

If used thoughtfully and with intent, feedback and coaching will promote learning and growth as well as personal and professional development in our learners. Feedback is an educational tool as well as a social interaction between learner and supervisor, in the context of a respectful and trusting relationship. It challenges the learner’s thinking and supports the learner’s growth. Coaching is an educational philosophy dedicated to supporting learners’ personal and professional development and growth and supporting them to reach their potential. In clinical education, feedback is most effective when it is explicitly distinguished from summative assessment. Importantly, feedback should be about firsthand observed behaviors (which can be direct or indirect) and not about information which comes from a third party. Learners are more receptive to feedback if it comes from a source that they perceive as credible, and with whom they have developed rapport. The coaching relationship between learner and supervisor should also be built on mutual trust and respect. Coaching can be provided in the moment (feedback on everyday clinical activities that leads to performance improvement, even with short interaction with a supervisor) and over time (a longer term relationship with a supervisor in which there is reflection on the learner’s development and co-creation of new learning goals). Feedback and coaching are most valuable when the learner and teacher exhibit a growth mindset. At the organizational level, it is important that both the structures and training are in place to ensure a culture of effective feedback and coaching in the clinical workplace. Conclusions: Having a thoughtful and intentional approach to feedback and coaching with learners, as well as applying evidence-based principles, will not only contribute in a significant way to their developmental progression, but will also provide them with the tools they need to have the best chance of achieving competence throughout their training

The Supernova Remnant CTB104A : Magnetic Field Structure and Interaction with the Environment

We present new, high resolution 1420 and 408 MHz continuum images and HI and 12CO (J=1-0) spectral line maps of the diffuse supernova remnant CTB104A (G93.7-0.3). Analysis of the complex continuum emission reveals no significant spectral index variations across the remnant. Three prominences around CTB104A are found to be related to the SNR, while one extension to the east is identified as an HII region associated with a background molecular shell. Small scale polarization and rotation measure (RM) structures are turbulent in nature, but we find a well-ordered RM gradient across the remnant, extending from southeast to northwest. This gradient does not agree with the direction of the global Galactic magnetic field, but does agree with a large-scale RM anomaly inferred from rotation measure data by Cleg et al. (1992). We show that the observed morphology of CTB104A is consistent with expansion in a uniform magnetic field, and this is supported by the observed RM distribution. By modeling the RM gradient with a simple compression model we have determined the magnetic field strength within the remnant as Bo ~ 2.3 micro G. We have identified signatures of the interaction of CTB104A with the surrounding neutral material, and determined its distance, from the kinematics of the HI structure encompassing the radio emission, as 1.5 kpc. We also observed clear breaks in the HI shell that correspond well to the positions of two of the prominences, indicating regions where hot gas is escaping from the interior of the SNR.Comment: 7 pages, Latex with aastex and emulateapj5, 12 figures, ApJ accepte

Complex roles of myoglianin in regulating adult performance and lifespan

Myoglianin, the Drosophila homolog of the secreted vertebrate proteins Myostatin and GDF-11, is an important regulator of neuronal modelling, and synapse function and morphology. While Myoglianin suppression during development elicits positive effects on the neuromuscular system, genetic manipulations of myoglianin expression levels have a varied effect on the outcome of performance tests in aging flies. Specifically, Myoglianin preserves jumping ability, has no effect on negative geotaxis, and negatively regulates flight performance in aging flies. In addition, Myoglianin exhibits a tissue-specific effect on longevity, with myoglianin upregulation in glial cells increasing the median lifespan. These findings indicate complex role for this TGF-β-like protein in governing neuromuscular signalling and consequent behavioural outputs and lifespan in adult flies