Human–Computer Interaction considerations when developing cyber ranges

The number of cyber-attacks are continuing to rise globally. It is therefore vital for organisations to develop the necessary skills to secure their assets and to protect critical national infrastructure. In this short paper, we outline human-computer interaction elements which should be considered when developing a cybersecurity training platform, in an effort to maintain levels of user engagement. We provide an overview of existing training platforms before covering specialist cyber ranges. Aspects of human-computer interaction are covered with regards to their relevance in the context of cyber ranges. We conclude with design suggestions when developing a cyber range platform

Application of isotope dilution mass spectrometry: determination of ochratoxin A in the Canadian Total Diet Study

Analytical methods are generally developed and optimized for specific commodities. Total Diet Studies, representing typical food products ‘as consumed’, pose an analytical challenge since every food product is different. In order to address this technical challenge, a selective and sensitive analytical method was developed suitable for the quantitation of ochratoxin A (OTA) in Canadian Total Diet Study composites. The method uses an acidified solvent extraction, an immunoaffinity column (IAC) for clean-up, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for identification and quantification, and a uniformly stable isotope-labelled OTA (U-[13C20]-OTA) as an internal recovery standard. Results are corrected for this standard. The method is accurate (101% average recovery) and precise (5.5% relative standard deviation (RSD)) based on 17 duplicate analysis of various food products over 2 years. A total of 140 diet composites were analysed for OTA as part of the Canadian Total Diet Study. Samples were collected at retail level from two Canadian cities, Quebec City and Calgary, in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The results indicate that 73% (102/140) of the samples had detectable levels of OTA, with some of the highest levels of OTA contamination found in the Canadian bread supply

Vaccines against toxoplasma gondii : challenges and opportunities

Development of vaccines against Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans is of high priority, given the high burden of disease in some areas of the world like South America, and the lack of effective drugs with few adverse effects. Rodent models have been used in research on vaccines against T. gondii over the past decades. However, regardless of the vaccine construct, the vaccines have not been able to induce protective immunity when the organism is challenged with T. gondii, either directly or via a vector. Only a few live, attenuated T. gondii strains used for immunization have been able to confer protective immunity, which is measured by a lack of tissue cysts after challenge. Furthermore, challenge with low virulence strains, especially strains with genotype II, will probably be insufficient to provide protection against the more virulent T. gondii strains, such as those with genotypes I or II, or those genotypes from South America not belonging to genotype I, II or III. Future studies should use animal models besides rodents, and challenges should be performed with at least one genotype II T. gondii and one of the more virulent genotypes. Endpoints like maternal-foetal transmission and prevention of eye disease are important in addition to the traditional endpoint of survival or reduction in numbers of brain cysts after challenge

Seed germination and recolonisation of Zostera capricorni after grazing by dugongs

A seagrass meadow dominated by Zostera capricorni Aschers. was intensively grazed by dugongs (Dugong dugon Müller) between November 1992 and January 1993, leaving a bare sand surface. In less than a year densities had returned to pre-grazing levels with shoot densities of around 11,000 m−2 by August 1993. Recovery of the seagrass appears to have been augmented by a high incidence of sexual reproduction. The flowering season was between August and March, with a peak in December (1219 ± 338.8 flowering shoots m−2; 11.8% of all shoots). Seeds were found in the sediment throughout the year with least in late winter and early spring (August to November). Germinating seeds were found in the sediment throughout the year with the highest number and proportion in May (86 ± 30.5 m−2 and 22%). Seed production was considerably higher at this site than has been found in previous studies of Z. capricorni