Computer science qualifying exam: a case study on improving student success and program quality

Las instituciones de educación superior tradicionalmente miden el éxito de los estudiantes y la calidad de un programa académico mediante métricas estándar, como el tiempo que tarda un estudiante en obtener un título, las tasas de graduación y las tasas de retención. Además, algunos programas han instituido un "examen de calificación" como una forma alternativa de medir la calidad de un programa académico y evaluar el dominio del estudiante en los conceptos básicos. El programa de Ciencias de la Computación (CS) de la Universidad de Florida Central implementó un examen de calificación "Examen básico" en 1998 con el propósito de evaluar el dominio de los estudiantes de los conceptos básicos de CS y controlar la calidad del programa. Sin embargo, las tasas de aprobación de los estudiantes que tomaron este examen de calificación fueron significativamente bajas a lo largo de los años. Además, algunos estudiantes retrasaron sistemáticamente la realización de este examen por temor a reprobar. Para reflejar las credenciales de conocimiento que necesita la industria, promover el dominio de los conceptos básicos de informática y ayudar a los estudiantes a graduarse de manera oportuna, se implementaron recomendaciones de mejora basadas en datos en 2016. Después de que se realizaron las mejoras, muchos más estudiantes intentaron el examen a tiempo y progresaron en su título en los años 2016-2018. Los detalles de estas mejoras y su impacto se presentan en este documento. &nbsp

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Space Partitioning For Privacy In Location-Based Services Continuous Nearest Neighbor Query

With the help of location-aware mobile device user can issue a query and obtain information on nearest point of interest as it moves within a spatial network. This evolving computing paradigm offers great level of convenience to information access and usage. Nevertheless, the convenience comes with a price in the form of exposing user private information to potential abuse and misuse. This paper proposes a novel idea to protect user private information in a location-based services continuous nearest neighbor query with a focus on moving query and static object. Most proposed solutions for privacy use third party anonymizer, or offer protection only for snapshot query, however most queries are continuous. In this proposal we combine Voronoi tessellation and Hilbert curve order with R-tree index of geometric data storage to provide transition points that indicate where nearest neighbor changes. With a database arranged as a square matrix of size n bits, we execute double private information retrieval protocol in the server to return exact nearest neighbor point of interest throughout the query segment with minimal cost, and without revealing any user private information. Our experimental evaluation of the transmission cost using ns-3 simulator and the complexity analysis show a system capable of being scaled to different population size with minimal performance impact and with improvement on the complexity over related technique

Experiment Setup For Temporal Distributed Intrusion Detection System On Amazon\u27S Elastic Compute Cloud

In order to test the proposed distributed intrusion detection system there is a need for sufficient hardware and software in place as to provide a reasonable approximation of the actual conditions that such a system would expect to encounter if deployed in a live environment. These hardware and software requirements are compounded when attempting to test a distributed grid computing system because such systems typically can often scale to the hundreds or even thousands of computers. Even if sufficient hardware is obtainable, the generation of accurate test data accurately depicting normal patterns of network or Internet traffic can provide additional challenges, especially when the data is time sensitive. This paper demonstrates a method by which a distributed grid based IDS can be designed and implemented using virtual servers deployed on Amazon.com\u27s Elastic Compute Cloud service. ©2009 IEEE

Security And Integrity Analysis Using Indicators

Computer systems today are under constant attack by adversaries that are looking for opportunistic ways to gain access and exfiltrate data, cause disruption or chaos, or leverage the computer for their own use. Whatever the motives are, these attacks typically occur not just against one device but a series of computer systems that relate in some manner (i.e. banking systems). Being able to understand the attackers tactics, techniques, or procedures (TTP) and reuse the knowledge against other systems becomes critical to help detect the attackers movement, where they may have conducted other security breaches, and to help play catch-up and close down the attacker from persistent threat. Using Indicators as a way to define components of the various TTPs can act as a tool to help share intelligence. A simulation was conducted demonstrating the indicator lifecycle in which a malware binary was created to perform a https command and control (C2). Using this simulation, it was possible to demonstrate how indicators were produced and defined after system analysis as well as how they could be consumed on other systems searching for the same TTP. © 2012 IEEE

Load Balancing Approach For The Ad Hoc Wireless Intrusion Detection Simulation Framework

Ad hoc wireless networks are widely utilized type of wireless networks today. More than any other network topology, they are vulnerable to intrusions, as they operate in an open medium and use cooperative strategies for network management and communications. In this paper we present a distributed intrusion detection simulation test-bed for ad hoc wireless networks based on mobile agent technology, and propose a load balancing algorithm that optimizes the allocation of intrusion detection tasks to various nodes within each wireless cluster, while maintaining high degree of intrusion detection accuracy. The load balancing policy enables intrusion detection system to efficiently allocate IDS tasks based on each wireless node\u27s available resources, minimizing overall resource usage in the system. In contrast to many intrusion detection systems designed for wired networks, we develop an efficient and bandwidth-conscious framework that targets intrusions at multiple levels and takes into account distributed nature of ad hoc wireless network management and decision policies

Fast,Efficient And Secure Bss Transitions

We present a fast and efficient way of switching a wireless node (WN) between different Access Points (AP) in an Infrastructure Wireless Network. Our proposed model adheres to the security standards set by IEEE 802.IIi draft. New architectures like S02.IIi and Robust Secure Network (RSN) mainly depend on the S02.Ix×× communication between a Wireless supplicant node and an Authentication Server (AS) followed by a 4-Way handshake between Wireless Supplicant node and Access Point. Reassociation with another AP also requires a four way handshake. We propose two models for transitions. The first model is based on Distributed approach while the second one is based on Centralized approach. Distributed model involves AP to AP direct communication without the involvement of AS while in Centralized model APs communicate through AS. We show that both the models are very efficient, secure and deny any kind of man in the middle attack, any rogue attack by wireless node or an AP and any kind of Denial of Service attack. Finally, we show that Centralized model has a little edge over the distributed model. © 2005 IEEE

Enhancing network security education with research and development content

Network Security (CNT 4403) is an undergraduate course offered for the IT and Computer Science majors at the University of Central Florida. In the recent offering of this course, we enhanced its teaching by adding research-oriented content. In this paper, we discuss our enhancement effort and give two examples. Through our research and graduate teaching, we identified important security aspects of the anycast technology that are overlooked by traditional textbooks on network security. We added content on anycast to give the undergraduate students better experience with emerging security applications. Similarly, we added content on the experimental Robust ECN protocol to give students exposure to new trends in combating malicious user behavior. © 2011 ACM