Simple and Low Cost 10 Gb/s Coherent Transmission for Long Reach PON

131 km transmission (typical LR-PON distance) at 10Gb/s over G.652 fiber is demonstrated exploiting a direct modulated (DM) DFB laser, coherent receiver and electrical filtering obtaining an innovative chirp managed approach. No dispersion compensation (optical or DSP) is exploited

Ultra-Dense WDM-PON 6.25 GHz spaced 8x1 Gb/s based on a simplified coherent-detection scheme

We demonstrate experimentally a novel type of coherent low cost Gigabit-to-the-User Ultra-Dense-Wavelength Division Multiplexing (UD-WDM) PON, featuring 6.25 GHz channel spacing and long reach. Polarization-independent coherent detection is achieved by exploiting a novel scheme which requires only a 3×3 coupler, three photodiodes, basic analogue processing and a common DFB as local oscillator (LO). This avoids the conventional polarization diversity approach. The DFB LO is free running, i.e. not locked in frequency, and is tuned to detect any of the eight channels by simply changing its temperature in a range of 2° C. We achieve 70 km long-reach transmission plus 30 dB attenuation, for a total of > 45 dB optical distribution network loss. This indicates that this solution could be effectively exploited to overlay existing PON infrastructures by UD-WDM

PassGAN: A Deep Learning Approach for Password Guessing

State-of-the-art password guessing tools, such as HashCat and John the Ripper, enable users to check billions of passwords per second against password hashes. In addition to performing straightforward dictionary attacks, these tools can expand password dictionaries using password generation rules, such as concatenation of words (e.g., "password123456") and leet speak (e.g., "password" becomes "p4s5w0rd"). Although these rules work well in practice, expanding them to model further passwords is a laborious task that requires specialized expertise. To address this issue, in this paper we introduce PassGAN, a novel approach that replaces human-generated password rules with theory-grounded machine learning algorithms. Instead of relying on manual password analysis, PassGAN uses a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to autonomously learn the distribution of real passwords from actual password leaks, and to generate high-quality password guesses. Our experiments show that this approach is very promising. When we evaluated PassGAN on two large password datasets, we were able to surpass rule-based and state-of-the-art machine learning password guessing tools. However, in contrast with the other tools, PassGAN achieved this result without any a-priori knowledge on passwords or common password structures. Additionally, when we combined the output of PassGAN with the output of HashCat, we were able to match 51%-73% more passwords than with HashCat alone. This is remarkable, because it shows that PassGAN can autonomously extract a considerable number of password properties that current state-of-the art rules do not encode.Comment: This is an extended version of the paper which appeared in NeurIPS 2018 Workshop on Security in Machine Learning (SecML'18), see https://github.com/secml2018/secml2018.github.io/raw/master/PASSGAN_SECML2018.pd

Investigation of the Effects of Chirped RZ Signals in Reducing the Transmission Impairments in R-SOA-Based Bidirectional PONs

Distributed and concentrated reflections represent the two main limitations in reflective-semiconductor optical amplifier (R-SOA)-based passive optical networks (PONs). In this paper, we experimentally discuss how the use of chirped signals in centralized light seeding bidirectional PON can increase the resilience of the system against those two types of reflections. An experimental comparison of the performance of a highly chirped return to zero (RZ) modulation format and the nonreturn to zero is given. Error-free operation is achieved down to 10 dB of signal to crosstalk ratio in presence of distributed reflection, when the upstream signal is highly chirped RZ signal. The same chirped modulation leads to a tolerance of more than dB network return loss due to concentrated reflections. Finally, we assess also the system feasibility of a R-SOA-based full-duplex PON where both the upstream and the downstream are modulated signals

Promotion of Resilience in Migrants: A Systematic Review of Study and Psychosocial Intervention

This systematic review aimed to contribute to a better and more focused understanding of the link between the concept of resilience and psychosocial interventions in the migrant population. The research questions concerned the type of population involved, definition of resilience, methodological choices and which intervention programmes were targeted at migrants. In the 90 articles included, an heterogeneity in defining resilience or not well specified definition resulted. Different migratory experiences were not adequately considered in the selection of participants. Few resilience interventions on migrants were resulted. A lack of procedure’s descriptions that keep in account specific migrants’ life-experiences and efficacy’s measures were highlighted

System feasibility of using stimulated Brillouin scattering in self coherent detection schemes

We demonstrate the first self-coherent detection of 10 Gbit/s BPSK signals based on narrow-band amplification of the optical carrier by means of Stimulated Brillouin effect in a common fiber. We found that this technique is very effective only if it is combined with proper line coding and high-pass electrical filtering at the receiver. In this case we obtain OSNR-performance close to the ideal coherent receiver. (C) 2010 Optical Society of Americ

Optimal design of experiments for a lithium-ion cell: parameters identification of an isothermal single particle model with electrolyte dynamics

Advanced battery management systems rely on mathematical models to guarantee optimal functioning of Lithium-ion batteries. The Pseudo-Two Dimensional (P2D) model is a very detailed electrochemical model suitable for simulations. On the other side, its complexity prevents its usage in control and state estimation. Therefore, it is more appropriate the use of simplified electrochemical models such as the Single Particle Model with electrolyte dynamics (SPMe), which exhibits good adherence to real data when suitably calibrated. This work focuses on a Fisher-based optimal experimental design for identifying the SPMe parameters. The proposed approach relies on a nonlinear optimization to minimize the covariance parameters matrix. At first, the parameters are estimated by considering the SPMe as the real plant. Subsequently, a more realistic scenario is considered where the P2D model is used to reproduce a real battery behavior. Results show the effectiveness of the optimal experimental design when compared to standard strategies.Comment: Published in Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2019, 58, 3, 1286-129

Hybrid Radio over Fiber and Visible Light (RoF-VLC)Communication System

We experimentally demonstrate the integration of Radio-over-Fiber and Visible Light Communication technologies, into a hybrid system for indoor communication. The system, realized according to IEEE 802.11g standard, works effectively at typical office luminance level

Early suppression of lymphoproliferative response in dogs with natural infection by Leishmania infantum.

Dogs are the domestic reservoirs of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum. Early detection of canine infections evolving to clinically patent disease may be important to leishmaniasis control. In this study we firstly investigated the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) response to leishmanial antigens and to polyclonal activators concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen, of mixed-breed dogs with natural L. infantum infection, either in presymptomatic or in patent disease condition, compared to healthy animals. Leishmania antigens did not induce a clear proliferative response in any of the animals examined. Furthermore, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was found strongly reduced not only in symptomatic, but also in presymptomatic dogs suggesting that the cell-mediated immunity is suppressed in progressive canine leishmaniasis. To test this finding, naive Beagle dogs were exposed to natural L. infantum infection in a highly endemic area of southern Italy. Two to 10 months after exposure all dogs were found to be infected by Leishmania, and on month 2 of exposure they all showed a significant reduction in PBMC activation by mitogens. Our results indicate that suppression of the lymphoproliferative response is a common occurrence in dogs already at the beginning of an established leishmanial infection. # 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved