7,288 research outputs found
Privacy Preserving Internet Browsers: Forensic Analysis of Browzar
With the advance of technology, Criminal Justice agencies are being
confronted with an increased need to investigate crimes perpetuated partially
or entirely over the Internet. These types of crime are known as cybercrimes.
In order to conceal illegal online activity, criminals often use private
browsing features or browsers designed to provide total browsing privacy. The
use of private browsing is a common challenge faced in for example child
exploitation investigations, which usually originate on the Internet. Although
private browsing features are not designed specifically for criminal activity,
they have become a valuable tool for criminals looking to conceal their online
activity. As such, Technological Crime units often focus their forensic
analysis on thoroughly examining the web history on a computer. Private
browsing features and browsers often require a more in-depth, post mortem
analysis. This often requires the use of multiple tools, as well as different
forensic approaches to uncover incriminating evidence. This evidence may be
required in a court of law, where analysts are often challenged both on their
findings and on the tools and approaches used to recover evidence. However,
there are very few research on evaluating of private browsing in terms of
privacy preserving as well as forensic acquisition and analysis of privacy
preserving internet browsers. Therefore in this chapter, we firstly review the
private mode of popular internet browsers. Next, we describe the forensic
acquisition and analysis of Browzar, a privacy preserving internet browser and
compare it with other popular internet browser
Preparedness for use of the rapid result HIV self-test by gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM): a mixed methods exploratory study among MSM and those involved in HIV prevention and care
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to explore preparedness for the HIV self-test among men who have sex with men (MSM) and those involved in HIV prevention and care.
Methods:
A mixed methods exploratory research design was employed, detailing awareness and willingness to use the self-test and the perceived barriers and facilitators to implementation. Quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis were completed in parallel. Descriptive and inferential analysis of cross-sectional bar-based survey data collected from MSM through a self-completed questionnaire and oral fluid specimen collection (n = 999) was combined with qualitative, thematic, analysis of data collected through 12 expert focus groups (n = 55) consisting of gay men, National Health Service (NHS) staff, community organizations, entrepreneurs and activists. Findings were subsequently combined and assessed for synergies.
Results:
Among MSM, self-test awareness was moderate (55%). Greater awareness was associated with increased educational attainment [adjusted odds ratio 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00–2.30; P = 0.05] and previous history of sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing (adjusted odds ratio 1.63; 95% CI 1.11–2.39; P = 0.01). Willingness to use the test was high (89%) and associated with meeting sexual partners online (unadjusted odds ratio 1.96; 95% CI 1.31–2.94; P < 0.001). Experts highlighted the overall acceptability of self-testing; it was understood as convenient, discreet, accessible, and with a low burden to services. However, some ambivalence towards self-testing was reported; it could reduce opportunities to engage with wider services, wider health issues and the determinants of risk.
Conclusions:
Self-testing represents an opportunity to reduce barriers to HIV testing and enhance prevention and access to care. Levels of awareness are moderate but willingness to use is high. Self-testing may amplify health inequalities
Dynamical symmetry of isobaric analog 0+ states in medium mass nuclei
An algebraic sp(4) shell model is introduced to achieve a deeper
understanding and interpretation of the properties of pairing-governed 0+
states in medium mass atomic nuclei. The theory, which embodies the simplicity
of a dynamical symmetry approach to nuclear structure, is shown to reproduce
the excitation spectra and fine structure effects driven by proton-neutron
interactions and isovector pairing correlations across a broad range of nuclei.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
Minority Stress and Leukocyte Gene Expression In Sexual Minority Men Living With Treated HIV Infection
Sexual minority (i.e., non-heterosexual) individuals experience poorer mental and physical health, accounted for in part by the additional burden of sexual minority stress occurring from being situated in a culture favoring heteronormativity. Informed by previous research, the purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between sexual minority stress and leukocyte gene expression related to inflammation, cancer, immune function, and cardiovascular function. Sexual minority men living with HIV who were on anti-retroviral medication, had viral load \u3c 200 copies/mL, and had biologically confirmed, recent methamphetamine use completed minority stress measures and submitted blood samples for RNA sequencing on leukocytes. Differential gene expression and pathway analyses were conducted comparing those with clinically elevated minority stress (n = 18) and those who did not meet the clinical cutoff (n = 20), covarying reactive urine toxicology results for very recent stimulant use. In total, 90 differentially expressed genes and 138 gene set pathways evidencing 2-directional perturbation were observed at false discovery rate (FDR) \u3c 0.10. Of these, 41 of the differentially expressed genes and 35 of the 2-directionally perturbed pathways were identified as functionally related to hypothesized mechanisms of inflammation, cancer, immune function, and cardiovascular function. The neuroactive-ligand receptor pathway (implicated in cancer development) was identified using signaling pathway impact analysis. Our results suggest several potential biological pathways for future work investigating the relationship between sexual minority stress and health
Fiber-Cavity-Based Optomechanical Device
We describe an optomechanical device consisting of a fiber-based optical
cavity containing a silicon nitiride membrane. In comparison with typical
free-space cavities, the fiber-cavity's small mode size (10 {\mu}m waist, 80
{\mu}m length) allows the use of smaller, lighter membranes and increases the
cavity-membrane linear coupling to 3 GHz/nm and quadratic coupling to 20
GHz/nm^2. This device is also intrinsically fiber-coupled and uses glass
ferrules for passive alignment. These improvements will greatly simplify the
use of optomechanical systems, particularly in cryogenic settings. At room
temperature, we expect these devices to be able to detect the shot noise of
radiation pressure.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; the following article has been submitted to
Applied Physics Letter
Who will use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and why?: Understanding PrEP awareness and acceptability amongst men who have sex with men in the UK – a mixed methods study
Background:
Recent clinical trials suggest that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may reduce HIV transmission by up to 86% for men who have sex with men (MSM), whilst relatively high levels of PrEP acceptability have been reported to date. This study examines PrEP awareness amongst sub-groups of MSM communities and acceptability amongst MSM in a low prevalence region (Scotland, UK), using a mixed methods design.
Methods:
Quantitative surveys of n = 690 MSM recruited online via social and sociosexual media were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. In addition, n = 10 in-depth qualitative interviews with MSM were analysed thematically.
Results:
Under one third (29.7%) of MSM had heard of PrEP, with awareness related to living in large cities, degree level education, commercial gay scene use and reporting an HIV test in the last year. Just under half of participants (47.8%) were likely to use PrEP if it were available but there was no relationship between PrEP acceptability and previous PrEP awareness. Younger men (18–25 years) and those who report higher risk UAI were significantly more likely to say they would use PrEP. Qualitative data described specific PrEP scenarios, illustrating how risk, patterns of sexual practice and social relationships could affect motivation for and nature of PrEP use.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest substantial interest PrEP amongst MSM reporting HIV risk behaviours in Scotland. Given the Proud results, there is a strong case to investigate PrEP implementation within the UK. However, it appears that disparities in awareness have already emerged along traditional indicators of inequality. Our research identifies the need for comprehensive support when PrEP is introduced, including a key online component, to ensure equity of awareness across diverse MSM communities (e.g. by geography, education, gay scene use and HIV proximity), as well as to responding to the diverse informational and sexual health needs of all MSM communities
Neutrino Pair Bremsstrahlung in Neutron Star Crusts: a Reappraisal
We demonstrate that band-structure effects suppress bremsstrahlung of
neutrino pairs by electrons in the crusts of neutron stars at temperatures of
the order of and below. Taking this into account,
together with the fact that recent work indicates that the masses of neutron
star crusts are considerably smaller than previously estimated, we find
neutrino pair bremsstrahlung to be much less important for the thermal
evolution of neutron stars than earlier calculations suggested.Comment: 11 plain LaTeX pages, 3 figures available on request, NORDITA-93/72
A/S/
Bring a plate: facilitating experimentation in the Welcome Dinner Project
Drawing on in-depth empirical research, we explore a project called The Welcome Dinner (WDP). The WDP aims to bring together ‘newly arrived’ people and ‘established Australians’ to meet and ‘share stories’ over a potluck meal in ‘the comfort of their own home’. The purpose is to create meaningful connections, new friendships and social solidarities. In this paper, we focus on the micro-contexts of the dinners and the minute activities and techniques that facilitators use in hosting. Our aim is not to analyse the effects of the project but rather the design and meaning of the activities. As a form of ‘designed everyday multiculturalism’, focused on welcoming new arrivals to Australia, it takes effort, skill and labour to manage the contact between different cultural groups over organised meals. Thus, facilitators take over the hosting of the lunches and dinners to run activities, which are imagined to lubricate social dynamics and relations, and produce convivial commensal affects and behaviours. Drawing on theories of training activities as embodied and cognitive experimentations, which enable new knowledge practices and social relations, we analyse field notes and interviews about the facilitation, structure and activities at the WDP home dinners
as parameter of Minkowski metric in effective theory
With the proper choice of the dimensionality of the metric components, the
action for all fields becomes dimensionless. Such quantities as the vacuum
speed of light c, the Planck constant \hbar, the electric charge e, the
particle mass m, the Newton constant G never enter equations written in the
covariant form, i.e., via the metric g^{\mu\nu}. The speed of light c and the
Planck constant are parameters of a particular two-parametric family of
solutions of general relativity equations describing the flat isotropic
Minkowski vacuum in effective theory emerging at low energy:
g^{\mu\nu}=diag(-\hbar^2, (\hbar c)^2, (\hbar c)^2, (\hbar c)^2). They
parametrize the equilibrium quantum vacuum state. The physical quantities which
enter the covariant equations are dimensionless quantities and dimensionful
quantities of dimension of rest energy M or its power. Dimensionless quantities
include the running coupling `constants' \alpha_i; topological and geometric
quantum numbers (angular momentum quantum number j, weak charge, electric
charge q, hypercharge, baryonic and leptonic charges, number of atoms N, etc).
Dimensionful parameters include the rest energies of particles M_n (or/and mass
matrices); the gravitational coupling K with dimension of M^2; cosmological
constant with dimension M^4; etc. In effective theory, the interval s has the
dimension of 1/M; it characterizes the dynamics of particles in the quantum
vacuum rather than geometry of space-time. We discuss the effective action, and
the measured physical quantities resulting from the action, including
parameters which enter the Josepson effect, quantum Hall effect, etc.Comment: 18 pages, no figures, extended version of the paper accepted in JETP
Letter
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