DDoS-Capable IoT Malwares: comparative analysis and Mirai Investigation

The Internet of Things (IoT) revolution has not only carried the astonishing promise to interconnect a whole generation of traditionally “dumb” devices, but also brought to the Internet the menace of billions of badly protected and easily hackable objects. Not surprisingly, this sudden flooding of fresh and insecure devices fueled older threats, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. In this paper, we first propose an updated and comprehensive taxonomy of DDoS attacks, together with a number of examples on how this classification maps to real-world attacks. Then, we outline the current situation of DDoS-enabled malwares in IoT networks, highlighting how recent data support our concerns about the growing in popularity of these malwares. Finally, we give a detailed analysis of the general framework and the operating principles of Mirai, the most disruptive DDoS-capable IoT malware seen so far

Analysis of Vertical Ground Heat Exchangers: The New CaRM Tool☆

Abstract The ground source heat pump systems are worldwide used for space heating and cooling of buildings. The energy efficiency of the heat pump depends on the temperature of the heat carrier fluid on the ground side, which is affected by the annual ground load profile and the arrangement of the boreholes. This paper conducts long-term analysis of two office buildings with unbalanced load profiles in Italy. Work focuses the effects of the heat imbalance on the heat pump entering fluid temperature over ten simulated years. A detailed numerical simulation tool was used to conduct the analysis

Solar Assisted Ground Source Heat Pump in Cold Climates

Abstract The geothermal heat pump (or ground source heat pump) uses the ground as heat source or sink for heating and cooling respectively. The design of the borehole field is the key element of these systems since the wrong evaluation of the boreholes' length affects the initial costs and/or the energy performance of the heat pump. The geothermal heat pumps are considered as renewable energy technologies, consequently can help the community to reduce the primary energy uses and also the CO 2 emissions. However the sustainability and efficiency are ensured in the long period only when the heat balance through the ground is guaranteed. This work evaluates the thermal behavior of ground source heat pumps in cold climates, where the thermal load profile of buildings is not balanced between heating and cooling, especially in residential sector characterized by low internal loads. In these contexts, the heat pump mainly works in heating mode, extracting continuously heat from the ground. As a result, the ground temperature decreases gradually during the years affecting the energy performance of the heat pump. A possible solution to this problem is to use solar thermal collectors to stabilize or gradually increase the mean ground temperature (these systems are called Solar Assisted Ground Source Heat Pump – SAGSHP). In this work a multi floors residential building with 12 flats (88 m 2 each) is analyzed in three climate zones, making use of the simulation tool TRNSYS. Different configurations of the plant system have been investigated and the case without the solar thermal collectors has been considered as reference

Use of municipal solid waste landfill as heat source of heat pump

The heat pump systems are considered today an environmentally friendly technology and, together with other energy production systems from renewable sources, are fundamental for reducing energy consumption and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions due to air conditioning of buildings. The ground source heat pumps use the ground as a heat source able to provide the better energy performance if compared with more common systems which using air as source. The increase of the temperatures inside the controlled landfills of municipal solid waste (MSW), due to the decomposition of waste materials can make the volume of waste a viable alternative in this context, to be used as a heat source for the production of heat. The present work has the objective of analyzing the potential of use of a MSW landfill for space heating through a heat pump. The first part of the work analyzes the main features of a landfill of municipal solid waste starting from system design through to biological degradation processes of organic matter. Subsequently the possible configurations of heat exchangers to be inserted within or covering the landfill is discussed. Based on the findings found in the literature, a dynamic model has been created for a real case study of a MSW landfill located in the north-east of Italy. Boundary conditions (i.e. annual temperature cycles for the soil, heat exchange by convection with the ambient air and radiation, a heat generation function distributed on the rejection of mass) have been imposed to the model in order to carry out annual simulations by means of finite element method, thanks to which the values of temperature reached by the mass of waste have been obtained. By means of the creation of a thermal load profile of a group of users it has been possible to determine the total energy extracted from the landfill and the electricity needed for the operation of the heat pump. The potential energy saving achievable with this type of plant was obtained by comparison with a ground source heat pump using horizontal pipes

Solar assisted ground source heat pump in cold climates

The geothermal heat pump(or ground source heat pump) uses the ground as heat source or sink for heating and cooling respectively. The design of the borehole field is the key element of these systems since the wrong evaluation of the boreholes’ length affects the initial costs and/or the energy performance of the heat pump. The geothermal heat pumps are considered as renewable energy technologies, consequently can help the community to reduce the primary energy uses and also the CO2 emissions. However the sustainability and efficiency are ensured in the long period only when the heat balance through the ground is guaranteed. This work evaluates the thermal behavior of ground source heat pumps in cold climates, where the thermal load profile of buildings is not balanced between heating and cooling, especially in residential sector characterized by low internal loads. In these contexts, the heat pump mainly works in heating mode, extracting continuously heat from the ground. As a result, the ground temperature decreases gradually during the years affecting the energy performance of the heat pump. A possible solution to this problem is to use solar thermal collectors to stabilize or gradually increase the mean ground temperature(these systems are called Solar Assisted Ground Source Heat Pump – SAGSHP). In this work a multi floors residential building with 12 flats (88 m2 each)is analyzed in three climate zones, making use of the simulation tool TRNSYS. Different configurations of the plant system have been investigated and the case without the solar thermal collectors has been considered as reference

Use of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill as Heat Source of Heat Pump

Abstract The heat pump systems are considered today an environmentally friendly technology and, together with other energy production systems from renewable sources, are fundamental for reducing energy consumption and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions due to air conditioning of buildings. The ground source heat pumps use the ground as a heat source able to provide the better energy performance if compared with more common systems which using air as source. The increase of the temperatures inside the controlled landfills of municipal solid waste (MSW), due to the decomposition of waste materials can make the volume of waste a viable alternative in this context, to be used as a heat source for the production of heat. The present work has the objective of analyzing the potential of use of a MSW landfill for space heating through a heat pump. The first part of the work analyzes the main features of a landfill of municipal solid waste starting from system design through to biological degradation processes of organic matter. Subsequently the possible configurations of heat exchangers to be inserted within or covering the landfill is discussed. Based on the findings found in the literature, a dynamic model has been created for a real case study of a MSW landfill located in the north-east of Italy. Boundary conditions (i.e. annual temperature cycles for the soil, heat exchange by convection with the ambient air and radiation, a heat generation function distributed on the rejection of mass) have been imposed to the model in order to carry out annual simulations by means of finite element method, thanks to which the values of temperature reached by the mass of waste have been obtained. By means of the creation of a thermal load profile of a group of users it has been possible to determine the total energy extracted from the landfill and the electricity needed for the operation of the heat pump. The potential energy saving achievable with this type of plant was obtained by comparison with a ground source heat pump using horizontal pipes

Plyometric training on sand versus grass: Effects on sprinting, jumping, agility and balance in soccer players

Soccer is an intermittent high-intensity activity requiring explosive strength and power production by the neuromuscular system. Plyometric training is recognized as an effective method for improving both sprinting and jumping ability through the stretch-shortening cycle. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of plyometric training on sand versus a grass surface on sprinting, jumping, agility, balance ability in soccer players. Sixteen adult soccer players volunteered in the study and were randomly assigned to a plyometric training group performed on sand (PS, n = 8) or on grass (PG, n = 8). Both groups performed 7 weeks of plyometric training on two separate weekly sessions lasting about 1.5 hour. Five-, 10- and 20-meters sprint test, Sargent test and standing long jump test, Illynois Agility test and Stork test were administered to assess sprinting, jumping, agility and balance ability, respectively. After 7 weeks of intervention results showed significative improvements in PS group for sprinting (p < .05), for standing long jump test (p < .05) and for balance (p < .05). Small but not significant differences were found for the other variables. A 7-week plyometric training performed on sand showed improvements on sprinting, jumping and balance respect to the same training performed on grass surface in adult soccer players

Raširenost bovericina u hrvatskom kukuruzu

The occurrence of beauvericin has been investigated in corn kernel (Zea mays L.) samples collected in 1996 (105 samples) and 1997 (104 samples) from 14 corn-producing counties of Croatia. Corn sample extracts were cleaned up by silica gel minicolumns and analyzed for beauvericin by high performance liquid chromatography with UV diode array detector. Higher incidence of positive samples was found in the 1996 crop as compared to the 1997 crop. In particular, 18 samples (17.4 %) of the 1996 crop were found contaminated with a mean beauvericin content of 393 ng/g and the highest level at 1864 ng/g. Only 1 out of 104 samples collected in the 1997 crop was contaminated with 696 ng/g of the toxin.n Beauvericin co-occurred with fumonisins B1 and B2 and with ochratoxin A in 17 and 4 samples, respectively. The results of mycological analysis of corn samples for beauvericin producing Fusarium species were in agreement with results of chemical analysis. In particular, higher incidence of Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg (known as Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon) (3.7 %) and Fusarium subglutinans (Wollenweber & Reinking) Nelson, Toussoun & Marasas (5.3 %) was found in 1996 with respect to 1997 (1.9 % of F. verticillioides and 0.4 % of F. subglutinans). This is the first report on the occurrence of beauvericin in Croatia.Učestalost bovericina analizirana je u uzorcima kukuruza skupljenim tijekom 1996. (105 uzoraka) i 1997. godine (104 uzorka) iz 14 županija Republike Hrvatske. Ekstrakt uzoraka kukuruza pročišćen je na silicij-gelskim minikolonama i analiziran na bovericin s tekućinskim kromatografom velike učinkovitosti (HPLC) s UV-diodnim detektorom. Učestalija pojava pozitivnih uzoraka nađena je godine 1996. u usporedbi s 1997. godinom. Godine 1996. nađeno je 18 uzoraka (17,4 %) kontaminiranih bovericinom sa srednjom vrijednošću pozitivnih uzoraka od 393 ng/g, odnosno s najvećom količinom od 1864 ng/g. Samo 1 od 104 skupljena uzorka godine 1997. bio je onečišćen s 696 ng/g toksina. Bovericin je nađen zajedno s fumonizinom B1 i B2 u 17 uzoraka, a s okratoksinom A samo u 4 uzorka. Mikološkom analizom utvrđene Fusarium vrste slažu se s kemijskim analizama na mikotoksine. Veća pojava Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg (poznat i kao Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon) (3,7 %) i F. subglutinans (Wollenweber & Reinking) Nelson, Toussoun & Marasas (5,3 %) nađena je godine 1996. u usporedbi s 1997. godinom kada je ustanovljeno (1,9 %) F. verticillioides i (0,4 %) F. subglutinans. Ovo je prvo izvješće o prisutnosti bovericina u Republici Hrvatskoj

Raširenost bovericina u hrvatskom kukuruzu

The occurrence of beauvericin has been investigated in corn kernel (Zea mays L.) samples collected in 1996 (105 samples) and 1997 (104 samples) from 14 corn-producing counties of Croatia. Corn sample extracts were cleaned up by silica gel minicolumns and analyzed for beauvericin by high performance liquid chromatography with UV diode array detector. Higher incidence of positive samples was found in the 1996 crop as compared to the 1997 crop. In particular, 18 samples (17.4 %) of the 1996 crop were found contaminated with a mean beauvericin content of 393 ng/g and the highest level at 1864 ng/g. Only 1 out of 104 samples collected in the 1997 crop was contaminated with 696 ng/g of the toxin.n Beauvericin co-occurred with fumonisins B1 and B2 and with ochratoxin A in 17 and 4 samples, respectively. The results of mycological analysis of corn samples for beauvericin producing Fusarium species were in agreement with results of chemical analysis. In particular, higher incidence of Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg (known as Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon) (3.7 %) and Fusarium subglutinans (Wollenweber & Reinking) Nelson, Toussoun & Marasas (5.3 %) was found in 1996 with respect to 1997 (1.9 % of F. verticillioides and 0.4 % of F. subglutinans). This is the first report on the occurrence of beauvericin in Croatia.Učestalost bovericina analizirana je u uzorcima kukuruza skupljenim tijekom 1996. (105 uzoraka) i 1997. godine (104 uzorka) iz 14 županija Republike Hrvatske. Ekstrakt uzoraka kukuruza pročišćen je na silicij-gelskim minikolonama i analiziran na bovericin s tekućinskim kromatografom velike učinkovitosti (HPLC) s UV-diodnim detektorom. Učestalija pojava pozitivnih uzoraka nađena je godine 1996. u usporedbi s 1997. godinom. Godine 1996. nađeno je 18 uzoraka (17,4 %) kontaminiranih bovericinom sa srednjom vrijednošću pozitivnih uzoraka od 393 ng/g, odnosno s najvećom količinom od 1864 ng/g. Samo 1 od 104 skupljena uzorka godine 1997. bio je onečišćen s 696 ng/g toksina. Bovericin je nađen zajedno s fumonizinom B1 i B2 u 17 uzoraka, a s okratoksinom A samo u 4 uzorka. Mikološkom analizom utvrđene Fusarium vrste slažu se s kemijskim analizama na mikotoksine. Veća pojava Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg (poznat i kao Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon) (3,7 %) i F. subglutinans (Wollenweber & Reinking) Nelson, Toussoun & Marasas (5,3 %) nađena je godine 1996. u usporedbi s 1997. godinom kada je ustanovljeno (1,9 %) F. verticillioides i (0,4 %) F. subglutinans. Ovo je prvo izvješće o prisutnosti bovericina u Republici Hrvatskoj

Analysis of a double source heat pump system in a historical building

This work presents the case study of the retrofitting of a historical building of the University of Padua, equipped with a hybrid heat pump system, which uses as heat source/sink the ground and ambient air. The building is located in Padua (Italy) and it is a historical complex of the late 1800, previously used as a geriatric hospital, in which a retrofit process is occurring in order to build the new humanistic campus of the Padua University reaching the highest energy efficiency. The refurbishment is in progress and regards both the building envelope and the plant-system. The building is equipped with two types of heat pumps: the first one is coupled to the ground with borehole heat exchangers and the second is a common air-to-water heat pump. The entire building plant system has been investigated through integrated computer simulations making use of EnergyPlus Software. A new control strategy in order to manage the two types of the heat pumps has been developed in order to increase the energy efficiency. The results outline the potential of the computer simulations in order to control the hybrid heat pump system. In fact, a suitable switch temperature was found in order to move from ground to air source/sink for the heat pumps. In addition, this strategy allows the control of the thermal drift of the ground temperature throughout the years