Evaluating atomicity, and integrity of correct memory acquisition methods

AbstractWith increased use of forensic memory analysis, the soundness of memory acquisition becomes more important. We therefore present a black box analysis technique in which memory contents are constantly changed via our payload application with a traceable access pattern. This way, given the correctness of a memory acquisition procedure, we can evaluate its atomicity and one aspect of integrity as defined by Vömel and Freiling (2012). We evaluated our approach on several memory acquisition techniques represented by 12 memory acquisition tools using a Windows 7 64-bit operating system running on a i5-2400 with 2 GiB RAM. We found user-mode memory acquisition software (ProcDump, Windows Task Manager), which suspend the process during memory acquisition, to provide perfect atomicity and integrity for snapshots of process memory. Cold-boot attacks (memimage, msramdump), virtualization (VirtualBox) and emulation (QEMU) all deliver perfect atomicity and integrity of full physical system memory snapshots. Kernel level software acquisition tools (FTK Imager, DumpIt, win64dd, WinPmem) exhibit memory smear from concurrent system activity reducing their atomicity. There integrity is reduced by running within the imaged memory space, hence overwriting part of the memory contents to be acquired. The least amount of atomicity is exhibited by a DMA attack (inception using IEEE 1394). Further, even if DMA is performed completely in hardware, integrity violations with respect to the point in time of the acquisition let this method appear inferior to all other methods. Our evaluation methodology is generalizable to examine further memory acquisition procedures on other operating systems and platforms

Особенности процесса обезвоживания угольной пульпы на вибрирующей волнообразной поверхности

На основі лабораторних технологічних досліджень процесу зневоднення вугільної пльпи на вібруючій хвилеподібній поверхні з двома рівнями знакозмінної кривини на основі сит динамічно активних стрічкових СДАС-дефлектор представлені осбливості переміщення надрешетного матеріалу в умовах дії високочастотних коливань і змінних значень режимних і конструктивних параметрів. Наведені графіки залежностей вологості надрешетного продукту від різних умов технологічного процесу. Виконаний аналіз цих залежностей.On the base of laboratory reseachs of the process dewatering of the coal pulp on the vibrating undulating surface with two levels sign-variable curve on the base of sieves of dynamical active belting SDAB-deflector was adduced peculiarity of the displacement oversieve material in the condirions acting high-frequency vibrations and variable meanings of the regime and constructive parameters. The plots of dependences of the moisture oversieve product from the different conditions of the technological process is adduce. The analysis of this dependences was implemented

Liquid crystal director fluctuations and surface anchoring by molecular simulation

We propose a simple and reliable method to measure the liquid crystal surface anchoring strength by molecular simulation. The method is based on the measurement of the long-range fluctuation modes of the director in confined geometry. As an example, molecular simulations of a liquid crystal in slab geometry between parallel walls with homeotropic anchoring have been carried out using the Monte Carlo technique. By studying different slab thicknesses, we are able to calculate separately the position of the elastic boundary condition, and the extrapolation length

Yoga in school sports improves functioning of autonomic nervous system in young adults: A non-randomized controlled pilot study

Background Yoga in school is a beneficial tool to promote the good health and well-being of students by changing the way they react to stress. The positive effects of yoga—taught in schools—on children, youth and young adults have been demonstrated in former studies using mostly subjective psychometric data. Aim The present trial aims to evaluate the potential effects of yoga on autonomic regulation in young adults by analyzing heart rate variability (HRV). Methods This study is a non-randomized, explorative, two-arm-pilot study with an active control group. Fourteen healthy young adults took part in a 10-week yoga program (90 min once a week) in school and were compared to a control group of 11 students who participated in conventional school sports (90 min once a week over 10 weeks). 24-hour electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded at baseline and following the 10-week intervention. From 20-minute of nocturnal sleep phases, HRV parameters were calculated from linear (time and frequency domain) and nonlinear dynamics (such as symbolic dynamics and Poincaré plot analysis). Analyses of variance (ANOVA) followed by t-tests as post-hoc tests estimating both statistical significance and effect size were used to compare pre-post-intervention for the two groups. Results The statistical analysis of the interaction effects did not reveal a significant group and time interaction for the individual nocturnal HRV indices. Almost all indices revealed medium and large effects regarding the time main effects. The changes in the HRV indices following the intervention were more dramatic for the yoga group than for the control group which is reflected in predominantly higher significances and stronger effect sizes in the yoga group. Conclusion In this explorative pilot trial, an increase of HRV (more parasympathetic dominance and overall higher HRV) after ten weeks of yoga in school in comparison to regular school sports was demonstrated, showing an improved self-regulation of the autonomic nervous system

Treosulfan-based conditioning regimen for children and adolescents with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, high transplant-related mortality after busulfan-based myeloablative regimens has been observed. Conditioning regimens with reduced toxicity based on melphalan or treosulfan are promising alternatives. We retrospectively analyzed hematopoietic stem cell transplantations in 19 hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis patients after conditioning with fludarabine, treosulfan, alemtuzumab, with or without thiotepa. Overall and disease-free survivals were 100% (follow up 7-31 months). Two patients required second transplant (1 after haploidentical transplantation). In 6 patients, overall donor chimerism dropped below 75% and prompted donor lymphocyte infusions. Administration of donor lymphocytes or second transplantation were significantly more frequent after transplantation from a human leukocyte antigen mismatched (9/10) versus matched (10/10) donor (P=0.018). The toxicity profile was favorable, with one veno-occlusive disease, one grade 3 graft-versus-host disease after donor lymphocyte infusion, and 2 severe viral infections (1 influenza, 1 Epstein Barr virus). In conclusion, the treosulfan-based regimen in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is effective with low toxicity and gives excellent overall and disease-free survival rates. In the future, the incidence of mixed chimerism, particularly after human leukocyte antigen mismatched donor transplants, needs to be addressed

Treosulfan-based conditioning regimen for children and adolescents with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, high transplant-related mortality after busulfan-based myeloablative regimens has been observed. Conditioning regimens with reduced toxicity based on melphalan or treosulfan are promising alternatives. We retrospectively analyzed hematopoietic stem cell transplantations in 19 hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis patients after conditioning with fludarabine, treosulfan, alemtuzumab, with or without thiotepa. Overall and disease-free survivals were 100% (follow up 7-31 months). Two patients required second transplant (1 after haploidentical transplantation). In 6 patients, overall donor chimerism dropped below 75% and prompted donor lymphocyte infusions. Administration of donor lymphocytes or second transplantation were significantly more frequent after transplantation from a human leukocyte antigen mismatched (9/10) versus matched (10/10) donor (P=0.018). The toxicity profile was favorable, with one veno-occlusive disease, one grade 3 graft-versus-host disease after donor lymphocyte infusion, and 2 severe viral infections (1 influenza, 1 Epstein Barr virus). In conclusion, the treosulfan-based regimen in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is effective with low toxicity and gives excellent overall and disease-free survival rates. In the future, the incidence of mixed chimerism, particularly after human leukocyte antigen mismatched donor transplants, needs to be addressed

Evaluating STAT5 Phosphorylation as a Mean to Assess T Cell Proliferation

Here we present a simple and sensitive flow cytometric—based assay to assess T cell proliferation. Given the critical role STAT5A phosphorylation in T cell proliferation, we decided to evaluate phosphorylation of STAT5A as an indicator of T cell proliferation. We determined pSTAT5A in T cell treated with either CD3/CD28 or PHA. After stimulation, T cells from adult healthy donors displayed a strong long-lasting phosphorylation of STAT5A, reaching a peak value after 24 h. The median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of pSTAT5A increased from 112 ± 17 to 512 ± 278 (CD3/CD28) (24 h) and to 413 ± 123 (PHA) (24 h), the IL-2 receptor-α (CD25) expression was greatly enhanced and after 72 h T cell proliferation amounted to 52.3 ± 10.3% (CD3/CD28) and to 48.4 ± 9.7% (PHA). Treatment with specific JAK3 and STAT5 inhibitors resulted in a complete blockage of phosphorylation of STAT5A, CD25 expression, and suppression of T cell proliferation. Compared with currently available methods, STAT5A phosphorylation is well-suited to predict T cell proliferation. Moreover, the method presented here is not very time consuming (several hours) and delivers functional information from which conclusions about T cell proliferation can be drawn

Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as individual treatment option in pediatric patients with very high-risk sarcomas

Background Prognosis of children with primary disseminated or metastatic relapsed sarcomas remains dismal despite intensification of conventional therapies including high-dose chemotherapy. Since haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) is effective in the treatment of hematological malignancies by mediating a graft versus leukemia effect, we evaluated this approach in pediatric sarcomas as well. Methods Patients with bone Ewing sarcoma or soft tissue sarcoma who received haplo-HSCT as part of clinical trials using CD3+ or TCRα/β+ and CD19+ depletion respectively were evaluated regarding feasibility of treatment and survival. Results We identified 15 patients with primary disseminated disease and 14 with metastatic relapse who were transplanted from a haploidentical donor to improve prognosis. Three-year event-free survival (EFS) was 18,1% and predominantly determined by disease relapse. Survival depended on response to pre-transplant therapy (3y-EFS of patients in complete or very good partial response: 36,4%). However, no patient with metastatic relapse could be rescued. Conclusion Haplo-HSCT for consolidation after conventional therapy seems to be of interest for some, but not for the majority of patients with high-risk pediatric sarcomas. Evaluation of its future use as basis for subsequent humoral or cellular immunotherapies is necessary

Minimal residual disease prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia: a meta-analysis

Minimal residual disease prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation has been associated with increased risk of relapse and death in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, but detection methodologies and results vary widely. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the prognostic role of minimal residual disease detected by polymerase chain reaction or multiparametric flow cytometry before transplant. We identified 19 articles published between January 2005 and June 2016 and extracted hazard ratios for leukemia-free survival, overall survival, and cumulative incidences of relapse and non-relapse mortality. Pre-transplant minimal residual disease was associated with worse leukemia-free survival (HR=2.76 [1.90-4.00]), overall survival (HR=2.36 [1.73-3.22]), and cumulative incidence of relapse (HR=3.65 [2.53-5.27]), but not non-relapse mortality (HR=1.12 [0.81-1.55]). These associations held regardless of detection method, conditioning intensity, and patient age. Adverse cytogenetics was not an independent risk factor for death or relapse. There was more heterogeneity among studies using flow cytometry-based than WT1 polymerase chain reaction-based detection (I(2)=75.1% vs. <0.1% for leukemia-free survival, 67.8% vs. <0.1% for overall survival, and 22.1% vs. <0.1% for cumulative incidence of relapse). These results demonstrate a strong relationship between pre-transplant minimal residual disease and post-transplant relapse and survival. Outcome heterogeneity among studies using flow-based methods may underscore site-specific methodological differences or differences in test performance and interpretation