Quantifying Information Leaks Using Reliability Analysis

acmid: 2632367 keywords: Model Counting, Quantitative Information Flow, Reliability Analysis, Symbolic Execution location: San Jose, CA, USA numpages: 4acmid: 2632367 keywords: Model Counting, Quantitative Information Flow, Reliability Analysis, Symbolic Execution location: San Jose, CA, USA numpages: 4acmid: 2632367 keywords: Model Counting, Quantitative Information Flow, Reliability Analysis, Symbolic Execution location: San Jose, CA, USA numpages: 4We report on our work-in-progress into the use of reliability analysis to quantify information leaks. In recent work we have proposed a software reliability analysis technique that uses symbolic execution and model counting to quantify the probability of reaching designated program states, e.g. assert violations, under uncertainty conditions in the environment. The technique has many applications beyond reliability analysis, ranging from program understanding and debugging to analysis of cyber-physical systems. In this paper we report on a novel application of the technique, namely Quantitative Information Flow analysis (QIF). The goal of QIF is to measure information leakage of a program by using information-theoretic metrics such as Shannon entropy or Renyi entropy. We exploit the model counting engine of the reliability analyzer over symbolic program paths, to compute an upper bound of the maximum leakage over all possible distributions of the confidential data. We have implemented our approach into a prototype tool, called QILURA, and explore its effectiveness on a number of case studie

The Pierre Auger Observatory III: Other Astrophysical Observations

Astrophysical observations of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays with the Pierre Auger ObservatoryComment: Contributions to the 32nd International Cosmic Ray Conference, Beijing, China, August 201

Radon in the DRIFT-II directional dark matter TPC: emanation, detection and mitigation

Radon gas emanating from materials is of interest in environmental science and also a major concern in rare event non-accelerator particle physics experiments such as dark matter and double beta decay searches, where it is a major source of background. Notable for dark matter experiments is the production of radon progeny recoils (RPRs), the low energy (~ 100 keV) recoils of radon daughter isotopes, which can mimic the signal expected from WIMP interactions. Presented here are results of measurements of radon emanation from detector materials in the 1 m3 DRIFT-II directional dark matter gas time projection chamber experiment. Construction and operation of a radon emanation facility for this work is described, along with an analysis to continuously monitor DRIFT data for the presence of internal 222Rn and 218Po. Applying this analysis to historical DRIFT data, we show how systematic substitution of detector materials for alternatives, selected by this device for low radon emanation, has resulted in a factor of ~ 10 reduction in internal radon rates. Levels are found to be consistent with the sum from separate radon emanation measurements of the internal materials and also with direct measurement using an attached alpha spectrometer. The current DRIFT detector, DRIFT-IId, is found to have sensitivity to 222Rn of 2.5 μBql−1 with current analysis efficiency, potentially opening up DRIFT technology as a new tool for sensitive radon assay of materials

Observation of associated near-side and away-side long-range correlations in √sNN=5.02 TeV proton-lead collisions with the ATLAS detector

Two-particle correlations in relative azimuthal angle (Δϕ) and pseudorapidity (Δη) are measured in √sNN=5.02  TeV p+Pb collisions using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements are performed using approximately 1  μb-1 of data as a function of transverse momentum (pT) and the transverse energy (ΣETPb) summed over 3.1<η<4.9 in the direction of the Pb beam. The correlation function, constructed from charged particles, exhibits a long-range (2<|Δη|<5) “near-side” (Δϕ∼0) correlation that grows rapidly with increasing ΣETPb. A long-range “away-side” (Δϕ∼π) correlation, obtained by subtracting the expected contributions from recoiling dijets and other sources estimated using events with small ΣETPb, is found to match the near-side correlation in magnitude, shape (in Δη and Δϕ) and ΣETPb dependence. The resultant Δϕ correlation is approximately symmetric about π/2, and is consistent with a dominant cos⁡2Δϕ modulation for all ΣETPb ranges and particle pT

Biocomposite films based on κ-carrageenan/locust bean gum blends and clays : physical and antimicrobial properties

The aims of this work were to evaluate the physical and antimicrobial properties of biodegradable films composed of mixtures of κ-carrageenan (κ-car) and locust bean gum (LBG) when organically modified clay Cloisite 30B (C30B) was dispersed in the biopolymer matrix. Film-forming solutions were prepared by adding C30B (ranging from 0 to 16 wt.%) into the κ-car/LBG solution (40/60 wt.%) with 0.3 % (w/v) of glycerol. Barrier properties (water vapour permeability, P vapour; CO2 and O2 permeabilities), mechanical properties (tensile strength, TS, and elongation-at-break, EB) and thermal stability of the resulting films were determined and related with the incorporation of C30B. Also, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was done in order to investigate the effect of C30B in film structure. Antimicrobial effects of these films against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica were also evaluated. The increase of clay concentration causes a decrease of P vapour (from 5.34 × 10−11 to 3.19 × 10−11 g (m s Pa)−1) and an increase of the CO2 permeability (from 2.26 × 10−14 to 2.91 × 10−14 g (m s Pa)−1) and did not changed significantly the O2 permeability for films with 0 and 16 wt.% C30B, respectively. Films with 16 wt.% clay exhibited the highest values of TS (33.82 MPa) and EB (29.82 %). XRD patterns of the films indicated that a degree of exfoliation is attained depending on clay concentration. κ-car/LBG–C30B films exhibited an inhibitory effect only against L. monocytogenes. κ-car/LBG–C30B composite films are a promising alternative to synthetic films in order to improve the shelf life and safety of food products.J. T. Martins, A. I. Bourbon, A. C. Pinheiro and M. A. Cerqueira gratefully acknowledge the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) for their fellowships (SFRH/BD/32566/2006, SFRH/BD/73178/2010, SFRH/BD/48120/2008 and SFRH/BPD/72753/2010, respectively), and B. W. S. Souza acknowledges the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES, Brazil)

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)