An intrusion and fault tolerant forensic storage for a SIEM system

Current Security Information and Events Management (SIEM) solutions lack a data storage facility which is secure enough - i.e. stored events related to security incidents cannot be forged and are always available - that it can be used for forensic purposes. Forensic storage used by current SIEM solutions uses traditional RSA algorithm to sign the security events. In this paper we have analyzed the limits of current forensic storages, and we have proposed an architecture for forensic storage, implementing a threshold-based variant of the RSA algorithm, that outperforms state of the art SIEM solutions in terms of intrusion- and fault-tolerance. We show by experiments that our forensic storage works correctly even in the presence of cyber-attacks, although with a performance penalty. We also conduct an experimental campaign to evaluate the performance cost of the proposed scheme as a function of the threshold

Quantitative models of hydrothermal fluid–mineral reaction:The Ischia case

The intricate pathways of fluid–mineral reactions occurring underneath active hydrothermal systems are explored in this study by applying reaction path modelling to the Ischia case study. Ischia Island, in Southern Italy, hosts a well-developed and structurally complex hydrothermal system which, because of its heterogeneity in chemical and physical properties, is an ideal test sites for evaluating potentialities/limitations of quantitative geochemical models of hydrothermal reactions. We used the EQ3/6 software package, version 7.2b, to model reaction of infiltrating waters (mixtures of meteoric water and seawater in variable proportions) with Ischia’s reservoir rocks (the Mount Epomeo Green Tuff units; MEGT). The mineral assemblage and composition of such MEGT units were initially characterised by ad hoc designed optical microscopy and electron microprobe analysis, showing that phenocrysts (dominantly alkali–feldspars and plagioclase) are set in a pervasively altered (with abundant clay minerals and zeolites) groundmass. Reaction of infiltrating waters with MEGT minerals was simulated over a range of realistic (for Ischia) temperatures (95–260° C) and CO2 fugacities (10 ^-0.2 to 10^0.5) bar. During the model runs, a set of secondary minerals (selected based on independent information from alteration minerals’ studies) was allowed to precipitate from model solutions, when saturation was achieved. The compositional evolution of model solutions obtained in the 95–260°C runs were finally compared with compositions of Ischia’s thermal groundwaters, demonstrating an overall agreement. Our simulations, in particular, well reproduce the Mg-depleting maturation path of hydrothermal solutions, and have end-of-run model solutions whose Na–K–Mg compositions well reflect attainment of full-equilibrium conditions at run temperature. High-temperature (180–260° C) model runs are those best matching the Na–K–Mg compositions of Ischia’s most chemically mature water samples, supporting quenching of deep-reservoir conditions for these surface manifestations; whilst Fe, SiO2 and, to a lesser extent, SO4 contents of natural samples are better reproduced in low-temperature (95°C) runs, suggesting that these species reflect conditions of water–rock interaction in the shallow hydrothermal environment. The ability of model runs to reproduce the compositional features of Ischia’s thermal manifestations, demonstrated here, adds supplementary confidence on reaction path modelling as a realistic and insightful representation of mineral–fluid hydrothermal reactions. Our results, in particular, demonstrate the significant impact of host rock minerals’ assemblage in governing the paths and trends of hydrothermal fluids’ maturation

A resilient architecture for forensic storage of events in critical infrastructures

In Critical Infrastructures, forensic analysis of stored events is an essential task when a security breach occurs. The goal of forensic analysis is to provide evidence to be used as valid proofs in a legal proceeding. So, it is very important to ensure the integrity of the events stored in order to perform a correct forensic analysis. Today, most of the SIEMs used to protect the Critical Infrastructures sign the security events with RSA classic algorithm in order to ensure their integrity. The signed security events cannot be admissible as evidence if the secret key is compromised, or when the module responsible for signing operations is down for any reason. In this paper a new architecture that overcomes these limitations has been proposed. Experimental tests show the performance of our architecture and the high resilience in faulty situations, i.e. some nodes are under attack

Functional properties of edible insects: a systematic review

: Consumption of edible insects has been widely suggested as an environmentally sustainable substitute for meat to reduce GHG emissions. However, the novel research field for edible insects rely on the content of bioactive ingredients and on the ability to induce a functional effect in humans. The goal of this manuscript was to review the available body of evidence on the properties of edible insects in modulating oxidative and inflammatory stress, platelet aggregation, lipid and glucose metabolism and weight control. A search for literature investigating the functional role of edible insects was carried out in the PUBMED database using specific keywords. A total of 55 studies, meeting inclusion criteria after screening, were divided on the basis of the experimental approach: in vitro studies, cellular models/ex vivo studies or in vivo studies. In the majority of the studies, insects demonstrated the ability to reduce oxidative stress, modulate antioxidant status, restore the impaired activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduce markers of oxidative damage. Edible insects displayed anti-inflammatory activity reducing cytokines and modulating specific transcription factors. Results from animal studies suggest that edible insects can modulate lipid and glucose metabolism. The limited number of studies focused on the assessment of anticoagulation activity of edible insects make it difficult to draw conclusions. More evidence from dietary intervention studies in humans is needed to support the promising evidence from in vitro and animal models about the functional role of edible insects consumption

Amniotic fluid absorption and growth functions in humans: what can we indirectly learn from congenital digestive atresias?

Background: Amniotic fluid (AF) was thought of just as a mechanical cushioning to the foetus. Nowadays, its role during pregnancy is getting more attention, suggesting hitherto unknown aspects. The aim of the study is to speculate on AF nutritional functions and its clinical repercussions based on what digestive tract (DT) atresias seem to suggest. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the patients admitted to our department for DT atresias between 2000 and 2020 was conducted. Patients’ birth weight (BW), gestational age (GA) at birth and diagnosis were recorded. The following were excluded from the study: oesophageal atresias (OA) with tracheoesophageal fistula (TOF), colonic and anal atresias and patients with associated major comorbidities. A control group was made of patients admitted to our ward in the same period for congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM). To standardize the BW, it was coupled with birth GA calculating the newborn percentiles. The mean newborn percentiles of OAs, duodenal atresias (DAs), jejunal atresias (JAs), and ileal atresias (IAs) were independently compared with the control group using Student’s t-test. Lastly, the significance of the frequencies’ distribution of newborns born small for gestational age (SGA) between the DT atresias and the control group was evaluated with the χ2 test, and the OR were calculated. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 231 patients were eligible for the study: 36 OAs without TOF, mean BW 2488.8 ± 491 g (range 1630–3750 g), mean GA 36.8 ± 2.1 weeks (31–40 weeks), mean newborn percentile 18 ± 22 (1–75); 20 DAs, mean BW 2586.8 ± 577.9 g (1250–3462 g), mean GA 36.2 ± 2.5 weeks (31–40 weeks), mean newborn percentile 31 ± 23 (3–79); 17 JAs, mean BW 2483.5 ± 621.7 g (900–3205 g), mean GA 34.8 ± 2.1 weeks (30–38 weeks), mean newborn percentile 44 ± 28 (4–96); 17 IAs, mean BW 2646.1 ± 769.8 g (1162.0–3888 g), mean GA 35.9 ± 3.2 weeks (30–41 weeks), mean newborn percentile 44 ± 26 (1–82); and 141 CPAMs with mean BW 3287.4 ± 492.0 g (980–4580 g), mean GA 38.7 ± 1.8 weeks (26–41 weeks), mean newborn percentile 43 ± 26 (1–99). The number of SGA neonates was 18 between OA patients (50%), 4 between DAs (20%), 1 between JAs (6%), 2 between IAs (12%) and 11 between CPAMs (8%). The mean percentile of the OAs and DAs was lower than the control group with a p of < .01 and .03 while no statistical significance was found in the comparison between DAs, JAs, IAs and CPAMs with a p of .06, .86 and .59. The incidence of SGA in the control group resulted lower than the one in the DT atresias where it becomes higher the more proximal the atresia is (p < .05). The OR of SGA newborn in the OA group was 11.8, in DA 3.0, in JA 0.7 and in IA 1.6. Conclusion: AF showed to have a great impact on foetal growth, and its preferred site of absorption seemed to be the stomach and duodenum. Its nutritional role could have an important predictive value in diagnosing DT atresia both prenatally and postnatally

Agricultural legacy, climate, and soil influence the restoration and carbon potential of woody regrowth in Australia

Opportunities for dual restoration and carbon benefits from naturally regenerating woody ecosystems in agricultural landscapes have been highlighted recently. The restoration capacity of woody ecosystems depends on the magnitude and duration of ecosystem modification, i.e., the ''agricultural legacy.'' However, this legacy may not influence carbon sequestration in the same way as restoration because carbon potential depends primarily on biomass accumulation, with little consideration of other attributes and functions of the ecosystem. Our present study simultaneously assesses the restoration and carbon potential of Acacia harpophylla regrowth, an extensive regrowth ecosystem in northeastern Australia. We used a landscape-scale survey of A. harpophylla regrowth to test the following hypotheses: (1) management history, in combination with climatic and edaphic factors, has long-term effects on stem densities, and (2) higher-density stands have lower restoration and carbon potential, which is also influenced by climatic and edaphic factors. We focused on the restoration of forest structure, which was characterized using stem density, aboveground biomass, stem heights, and stem diameters. Data were analyzed using multilevel models within the hierarchical Bayesian model (HBM) framework. We found strong support for both hypotheses. Repeated attempts at clearing Brigalow (A. harpophylla ecosystem) regrowth increases stem densities, and these densities remain high over the long term, particularly in high-rainfall areas and on gilgaied, high-clay soils (hypothesis 1). In models testing hypothesis 2, interactions between stem density and stand age indicate that higher-density stands have slower biomass accumulation and structural development in the long term. After accounting for stem density and stand age, annual rainfall had a positive effect on biomass accumulation and structural development. Other climate and soil variables were retained in the various models but had weaker effects. Spatial extrapolations of the HBMs indicated that the central and eastern parts of the study region are most suitable for biomass accumulation; however, these may not correspond to the areas that historically supported the highest biomass Brigalow forests. We conclude that carbon and restoration goals are largely congruent within areas of similar climate. At the regional scale, however, spatial prioritization of restoration and carbon projects may only be aligned where carbon benefits will be high. © 2010 by the Ecological Society of America

Interleukin-30 feeds breast cancer stem cells via CXCL10 and IL23 autocrine loops and shapes immune contexture and host outcome

Background Breast cancer (BC) progression to metastatic disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Metastasis is driven by cancer stem cells (CSCs) and signals from their microenvironment. Interleukin (IL) 30 promotes BC progression, and its expression correlates with disease recurrence and mortality. Whether it acts by regulating BCSCs is unknown and could have significant therapeutic implications. Methods Human (h) and murine (m) BCSCs were tested for their production of and response to IL30 by using flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, proliferation and sphere-formation assays, and PCR array. Immunocompetent mice were used to investigate the role of BCSC-derived IL30 on tumor development and host outcome. TCGA PanCancer and Oncomine databases provided gene expression data from 1084 and 75 hBC samples, respectively, and immunostaining unveiled the BCSC microenvironment. Results hBCSCs constitutively expressed IL30 as a membrane-anchored glycoprotein. Blocking IL30 hindered their proliferation and self-renewal efficiency, which were boosted by IL30 overexpression. IL30 regulation of immunity gene expression in human and murine BCSCs shared a significant induction of IL23 and CXCL10. Both immunoregulatory mediators stimulated BCSC proliferation and self-renewal, while their selective blockade dramatically hindered IL30-dependent BCSC proliferation and mammosphere formation. Orthotopic implantation of IL30-overexpressing mBCSCs, in syngeneic mice, gave rise to poorly differentiated and highly proliferating MYC + KLF4 + LAG3 + tumors, which expressed CXCL10 and IL23, and were infiltrated by myeloid-derived cells, Foxp3 + T regulatory cells and NKp46 + RORÎ 3t + type 3 innate lymphoid cells, resulting in increased metastasis and reduced survival. In tumor tissues from patients with BC, expression of IL30 overlapped with that of CXCL10 and IL23, and ranked beyond the 95th percentile in a Triple-Negative enriched BC collection from the Oncomine Platform. CIBERSORTx highlighted a defective dendritic cell, CD4 + T and Î 3δT lymphocyte content and a prominent LAG3 expression in IL30 high versus IL30 low human BC samples from the TCGA PanCancer collection. Conclusions Constitutive expression of membrane-bound IL30 regulates BCSC viability by juxtacrine signals and via second-level mediators, mainly CXCL10 and IL23. Their autocrine loops mediate much of the CSC growth factor activity of IL30, while their paracrine effect contributes to IL30 shaping of immune contexture. IL30-related immune subversion, which also emerged from computational analyses, strongly suggests that targeting IL30 can restrain the BCSC compartment and counteract BC progression

Freehand power-assisted pedicle screw placement in scoliotic patients: results on 5522 consecutive pedicle screws

Pedicle screws is the current gold standard in spine surgery, achieving a solid tricolumnar fixation which is unreachable by wires and hooks. The freehand technique is the most widely adopted for pedicle screws placing. While freehand technique has been classically performed with manual tools, there has been a recent trend toward the use of power tools. However, placing a pedicle screw remains a technically demanding procedure with significant risk of complications. The aim of this article is to retrospectively evaluate safety and accuracy of free-hand power-assisted pedicle screw placement in a cohort of patients who underwent correction and fusion surgery for scoliosis (both idiopathic and non-idiopathic) in our department. A retrospective review of all patients with scoliosis who underwent surgery and received a postoperative CT scan in our department in a 9-year period was undertaken. Screw density, number and location of pedicle screws were measured using pre and postoperative full-length standing and lateral supine side-bending radiographs. Then, postoperative CT scan was used to assess the accuracy of screw placement according to Gertzbein-Robbins scale. Malpositioned screws were divided according to their displacement direction. Finally, intra and postoperative neurological complications and the need for revision of misplaced screws were recorded. A total of 205 patients were included, with a follow-up of 64.9 ± 38.67 months. All constructs were high density (average density 1.97 ± 0.04), and the average number of fusion levels was 13.72 ± 1.97. A total of 5522 screws were placed: 5308 (96.12%) were grade A, 141 (2.5%) grade B, 73 (1.32%) grade C. Neither grade D nor grade E trajectories were found. The absolute accuracy (grade A) rate was 96.12% (5308/5522) and the effective accuracy (within the safe zone, grade A + B) was 98.6% (5449/5522). Of the 73 misplaced screws (grade C), 59 were lateral (80.80%), 8 anterior (10.95%) and 6 medial (8.22%); 58 were in convexity, while 15 were in concavity (the difference was not statistically significant, p = 0.33). Intraoperatively, neither neurological nor vascular complications were recorded. Postoperatively, 4 screws needed revision (0.072% of the total): Power-assisted pedicle screw placing may be a safe an accurate technique in the scoliosis surgery, both of idiopathic and non-idiopathic etiology. Further, and higher quality, research is necessary in order to better assess the results of this relatively emerging technique

Subclinical microvascular changes in ANCA-vasculitides: the role of optical coherence tomography angiography and nailfold capillaroscopy in the detection of disease-related damage

Background both cardiovascular and complement-mediated disorders might lead to microvascular damages in anti-neutrophil cytoplasm autoantibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV). We aimed at investigating, for the first time, subclinical microvascular abnormalities with non-invasive techniques in AAV patients by analyzing both retinal and nailfold capillary changes. Retinal plexi were investigated using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A), while nailfold capillary changes by video-capillaroscopy (NVC). Potential correlations between microvessels' abnormalities and disease damage were also explored.MethodsAn observational study was conducted on consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria of defined diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), age & GE; 18 & LE; 75 yrs, and no ophthalmological disorders. Disease activity was assessed by Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), damage by Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI), and poorer prognosis by the Five Factor Score (FFS). Quantitative analysis of vessel density (VD) was performed by OCT-A in both superficial and deep capillary plexi. figures and detailed analysis from NVC were performed for all subjects in the study.ResultsIncluded AAV patients (n = 23) were compared with 20 age/sex-matched healthy controls (HC). Retinal VD in superficial whole and parafoveal plexi resulted significantly decreased in AAV compared to HC (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively). Furthermore, deep whole and parafoveal vessel density was strongly reduced in AAV than HC (P & LE; 0.0001 for both). In AAV patients, significant inverse correlations occurred between VDI and OCTA-VD in both superficial (parafoveal, P = 0.03) and deep plexi (whole, P = 0.003, and parafoveal P = 0.02). Non-specific NVC pattern abnormalities occurred in 82% of AAV patients with a similar prevalence (75%) in HC. In AAV, common abnormalities were edema and tortuosity in a comparable distribution with HC. correlations between NVC changes and OCT-A abnormalities have not been described.ConclusionSubclinical microvascular retinal changes occur in patients with AAV and correlate with the disease-related damage. In this context, the OCT-A can represent a useful tool in the early detection of vascular damage. AAV patients present microvascular abnormalities at NVC, whose clinical relevance requires further studies

Correction to: High-grade dysplastic spondylolisthesis: surgical technique and case series

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the results of our all posterior-one stage surgical technique for the reduction and fusion of high-grade high-dysplastic spondylolisthesis. Methods: Patients over 11 years old with high-grade spondylolisthesis treated by reduction and circumferential fusion with a posterior-only approach were reviewed. Data about operative time, blood loss, length of stay, intra- and postoperative complications were collected. Meyerding grade (M), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), lumbosacral angle (LSA), slip angle (SLIP), lumbar index (LI) and severity index were measured on preoperative and last follow-up. Sagittal vertical axis (SVA) was used to assess sagittal balance. Results: Of the 14 included patients, L5-S1 arthrodesis was performed in 12 cases, and L4-S1 was performed in 2 cases. Average surgical time was 275 ± 65 min; average blood loss was 635 ± 375 mL. Average length of stay of was 3.9 ± 1.5 days. The SLIP angle improves from 33.8° ± 7.3° to 6.4° ± 2.5°, (p = 0.002); the lumbosacral angle improves from 68.8° ± 18.6° to 100.7° ± 13.2°, (p = 0.01); and the SVA decreased from 49.4 ± 22.1 mm to 34.4 ± 8.6 mm (p = 0.02). No significant changes were observed in PI, PT and SS. Thoracic kyphosis (TK) and lumbar lordosis (LL) did not change significantly. At last follow-up, no patient had surgical site infection or mechanical complications; no pseudoarthrosis was observed. No revision surgery was performed. Conclusion: Although technically demanding, reduction and fusion with one stage all posterior approach prove to be a safe and effective