Covert Channel in the BitTorrent Tracker Protocol

Covert channels have the unique quality of masking evidence that a communication has ever occurred between two parties. For spies and terrorist cells, this quality can be the difference between life and death. However, even the detection of communications in a botnet could be troublesome for its creators. To evade detection and prevent insights into the size and members of a botnet, covert channels can be used. A botnet should rely on covert channels built on ubiquitous protocols to blend in with legitimate traffic. In this paper, we propose a covert channel built on the BitTorrent peer-to-peer protocol. In a simple application, this covert channel can be used to discretely and covertly send messages between two parties. However, this covert channel can also be used to stealthily distribute commands or the location of a command and control server for use in a botnet

Silencing DUX4 Expression in FSHD Cells by CRISPR

Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant neuromuscular disease affecting 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 15,000 individuals and is characterized by progressive weakness in the facial, scapular, humeral, truncal, and lower extremity muscles (Tawil and Van Der Maarel Muscle Nerve 2006). FSHD is associated with the contraction of the D4Z4 microsatellite repeat below a threshold number of repeats (Wijmenga et al., Nat. Genet, 1992), allowing the transcription of the DUX4 gene contained within the last repeat (Snider et al., PLoS Gen, 2010). The disease only develops when DUX4 is expressed from a chromosome with the permissive 4qA allele, which contains a polyadenylation signal (PAS) that stabilizes the DUX4 transcript (Lemmers et al., Science, 2010). We are using CRISPR technology to investigate the possibility that disruption of the PAS in cells derived from FSHD patients could prevent expression of the DUX4 protein and restore the cell to a less affected phenotype. We will then take advantage of the high reprogramming efficiency of FSHD cells and generate iPSC from FSHD muscle cells with the repressed DUX4 allele, and determine if they have a similar phenotype to iPS cells derived from non-affected individuals. Finally, we will use the highly-engraftable iPS cells in xenograft experiments to determine if the DUX4-silenced iPSCs repopulate injured muscle more efficiently than unaltered FSHD-derived iPSC, and evaluate their potential for use as therapeutics

Wide complex tachycardia differentiation: A reappraisal of the state-of-the-art

The primary goal of the initial ECG evaluation of every wide complex tachycardia is to determine whether the tachyarrhythmia has a ventricular or supraventricular origin. The answer to this question drives immediate patient care decisions, ensuing clinical workup, and long-term management strategies. Thus, the importance of arriving at the correct diagnosis cannot be understated and has naturally spurred rigorous research, which has brought forth an ever-expanding abundance of manually applied and automated methods to differentiate wide complex tachycardias. In this review, we provide an in-depth analysis of traditional and more contemporary methods to differentiate ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular wide complex tachycardia. In doing so, we: (1) review hallmark wide complex tachycardia differentiation criteria, (2) examine the conceptual and structural design of standard wide complex tachycardia differentiation methods, (3) discuss practical limitations of manually applied ECG interpretation approaches, and (4) highlight recently formulated methods designed to differentiate ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular wide complex tachycardia automatically

The Grizzly, February 28, 2019

To Squat or to Cluster? That is the Question • HEP Professor Goes on a Revelatory Journey • SUN Event Concludes Black History Month • Ursinus Makes Impressive List • Eye-Opening Experiences in Limerick, Ireland • Religion Battles Science in Agnes of God • Opinions: U.S.\u27s Nuclear Intervention in Japan was Justified / was not Justified • The Did You Guys Seriously Forget How Good I Am? Award: Courtney Cortese • Men\u27s Hoops Eliminated in CC Semifinal; Williams Jr. Ends Career as CC Record-Holder • New Lax Coach, Mercadante, off to Impressive Starthttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1614/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, March 28, 2019

Alumni Award Winners Announced • Diversity Monologues: A Night of Sharing • Ursinus Honors Dr. Crigler\u27s Legacy • Changing Comic Books One Superhero at a Time • Tess Beck \u2720 Embracing Aussie • Ursinus Students Building Houses in South Carolina • Opinions: College Admissions Scandal is Shocking, but not Surprising; Backlash Against Rep. Omar Underlines Weakness in Democratic Leadership • The Off to an Historic Start Award: Dom Fiorentino • Women\u27s Lacrosse Travels to Nashville and Earns First Win of the Season • UC Baseball Picking up Steam as Season Gets Into Full Swinghttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1616/thumbnail.jp

172. Risk Factors for 30-Day Mortality in Patients with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia at a Community Hospital: A Prospective Case–Control Study

Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is associated with 30-day all-cause mortality rates approaching 20–30%. The purpose of this case–control study was to evaluate risk factors for 30-day mortality in patients with SAB at a community hospital. Methods: As part of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) initiative mandating Infectious Diseases consultation for episodes of SAB, our ASP prospectively monitored all cases of SAB at a 341-bed community hospital in Jefferson Hills, PA from April 2017–February 2019. Cases included patients with 30-day mortality from the initial positive blood culture. Only the first episode of SAB was included; patients were excluded if a treatment plan was not established (e.g., left against medical advice). Patient demographics, comorbidities, laboratory results, and clinical management of SAB were evaluated. Inferential statistics were used to analyze risk factors associated with 30-day mortality. Results: 100 patients with SAB were included; 18 (18%) experienced 30-day mortality. Cases were older (median age 76.5 vs. 64 years, P \u3c 0.001), more likely to be located in the intensive care unit (ICU) at time of ASP review (55.6% vs. 30.5%, P = 0.043), and less likely to have initial blood cultures obtained in the emergency department (ED) (38.9% vs. 80.5%, P \u3c 0.001). Variables associated with significantly higher odds for 30-day mortality in univariate analysis: older age, location in ICU at time of ASP review, initial blood cultures obtained at a location other than the ED, and total Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Variables with P \u3c 0.2 on univariate analysis were analyzed via multivariate logistic regression (Table 1). Conclusion: Results show that bacteremia due to MRSA and total CCI were not significantly associated with 30-day mortality in SAB, whereas older age was identified as a risk factor. Patients with initial blood cultures obtained at a location other than the ED were at increased odds for 30-day mortality on univariate analysis, which may raise concern for delayed diagnosis

The Grizzly, April 18, 2019

Largest Number of Prospective Students Ever Visit Ursinus on Admitted Students Day • Board of Trustees Gets More Diverse • Ursinus Alumna Comes to Discuss Her 45-Year Career in Education • French Hangs up the Baton After 40 Years of Service • Planned Parenthood Club Aims to Increase Awareness of Reproductive Rights and Health on Campus • Q&A Senior Feature: Brittani Schnable • Opinions: Transgender Soldiers Should be Respected; What Contemporary Indie Could Learn from the Post-Punk Movement • The Nice Job Scoring the Game-Winning Goal in Overtime Award: Sam Mutz • Mopkins! Bears Pull Off Historic Sweep of Blue Jays • Softball Team Racks up Accolades Amid Season of Marked Improvementhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1619/thumbnail.jp

Differentiating wide complex tachycardias: A historical perspective

One of the most critical and challenging skills is the distinction of wide complex tachycardias into ventricular tachycardia or supraventricular wide complex tachycardia. Prompt and accurate differentiation of wide complex tachycardias naturally influences short- and long-term management decisions and may directly affect patient outcomes. Currently, there are many useful electrocardiographic criteria and algorithms designed to distinguish ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular wide complex tachycardia accurately; however, no single approach guarantees diagnostic certainty. In this review, we offer an in-depth analysis of available methods to differentiate wide complex tachycardias by retrospectively examining its rich literature base - one that spans several decades

The Grizzly, February 21, 2019

Ursinus Turns 150 • U-Imagine Center Gives Entrepreneurial Inspiration • Exploring the Body and Mind at Ursinus • Parlee Center Highlights Brain Injuries in Sports • How Sweet the Sound: Voices in Praise Gospel Choir • God of Carnage : Dark Comedy in the Blackbox • Opinions: Blackface is Back, but it Never Really Left; Is Action-Movie Masculinity Breeding a Nation of Neesons? • The Ice in her Veins Award: Maya Kornfeld • Women\u27s Lacrosse Looking to Build on 2018 Campaign • Gymnastics Team Continues to Battle Through Tough Seasonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1613/thumbnail.jp